FAGACE^— BEECH FAMILY 



BEECH 



F^gus atropunicea. f'&gtis fcrrugmea. 



Fagus from phago, to eat, because the nuts were used as food in 

 the early ages. 



Widely distributed, growing on uplands and mountain slopes, also 

 on alluvial bottom lands and borders of streams. Usually seventy 

 to eighty feet high. In the crowded forest, tall, 

 sle.nder, with narrow head ; in open situations, 

 short stemmed, forming a round-topped head of 

 slender, slightly drooping branches beset with 

 short lateral branchlets. But one species is 

 native to North America. Grows well on lime- 

 stone. 



Bark. — Compact, smooth, ashy gray. Branch- 

 lets at first pale green, then olive green, finally 

 changing through brown to ashy gray. 



Wood. — Light red, varying in color in differ- 

 ent localities ; hard, strong, tough, very close 

 straight-grained and susceptible of a fine polish. 

 Used in manufacture of chairs, agricultural 

 implements and handles of tools. Sp. gr., 

 0.6883 ; weight of cu. ft., 42.89 lbs. 



Leaf-Btcds. — Cylindrical, long-pointed, light 

 chestnut brown, three-fourths to one inch long. 



Leaves. — Alternate, oblong-ovate, rounded or 

 cordate at base, coarsely serrate with spreading 

 or incurved teeth, acute or acuminate. Feather- 

 veined. They come out of the bud plicate, pale 

 green and silky, when full grown become dark green above, pale 

 green beneath. In autumn they turn a clear golden yellow, and 



378 



Unfolding Leaves of the 

 Beech. 



