Beech \^/urg:ts atropunicea). 



BEECH. IRONWOOD. 



{Fagiis.) (Carpinus, Ostrya, etc.) 



Beech is well known on the eastern continent. The 

 common beech {Fagus atropunicea) is the only American 



representative. Eastern species 

 have figured in literature since the 

 time of Virgil. The northern na- 

 tions early wrote upon thin tablets 

 of beechwood, and boc, bok, and 

 bucJie, the northern names for 

 beech, finally gave origin to the 

 word book.* American Indians 

 believed that the beech was proof against lightning. 



Beechwood is hard, heavy, strong, not durable when 

 exposed, and somewhat subject to attack by insects. European 

 engineers employ it to a considerable extent in construction, 

 but it is seldom used in America save for indoor finish, furni- 

 ture, handles, flooring, and the like. The small edible nuts, 

 known as beech-mast, are pressed abroad for a fixed oil, 

 resembling and used in place of that from the olive. They 

 are seldom gathered in this country, but are devoured by 

 animals. Beech-trees have smooth, light-colored bark, and 

 are very attractive in their winter appearance. They may be 

 recognized earlier in the season by their small prickly burrs, 

 each containing two triangular, sharp-edged nuts. There are 

 fifteen or more species known to belong to this genus. Fagus 

 is from phago, to eat, and refers to the nut. 



The name Ironwood has been applied to Blue Beech 

 {Carpinus caroliniana), to the Hornbeam {Ostrya virginiana), 

 and to at least eight other North American species affording 

 unusually hard and heavy woods, such as are used for handles 



*Liber, the Latin for book, is from liber, the inner bark of a tree, while 

 papyrus, the Latin for paper, is from an Egyptian reed of that name. The 

 words "book," "library," and " paper" are thus drawn from trees and plants. 



■j- Keeler notes experiments made to prove resistance on part of beechwood. 



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