134 



WOOD AND FOREST. 



39 



Beech. 



Fagus grandifolia Ehrhart. Fagiis americana S.weet. Fagus ferru- 

 ginea Aiton. Fagus atropiinicea (Marshall) Sudworth. 



Fagus (Greek phago means to eat), refers to edible nut; ferruginea, 

 refers to the iron rust color of the leaves in the fall; atropunicea, meaning 

 dark red or purple, may refer to the color of the leaves of the copper 

 beech. 



Habitat: (See map); 

 best in southern Alleghany 

 Moiuitains and lower Ohio 

 valley. 



Characteristics of the 

 Tree: Height, TO'-SO' and 

 even 120'; diameter, :i'-4'; 

 in forest, tnmk tall, slen- 

 der, sinewj' ; bark, smooth, 

 ash}' gray; leaves, feather- 

 veined, wedge-shaped, ser- 

 rate ; leaf bnds, long, 

 pointed ; fruit, 3 small 

 triangular nuts, enclosed 

 in burr, seeds about once 

 in 3 years. 



Appearance of Wood: 



Color, reddish, variable, 

 sap-wood white ; diffuse- 

 porous ; rings, obscure -, 

 gi'ain, straight; rays, 

 broad, very conspicuous. 



Habitat. 



l,caf. 



Physical dualities : 



Heavy (20th in this list) ; 

 43 lbs. per cu. ft. ; sp. gr., 



