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BEECH. 

 Fagus grandifolia, Ehrhart. 



'IdRM — Large tree usually attaining a height of 50-60 ft. with a diameter of 2-3 ft., but 

 B'' reach a height of 125 ft. with a diameter of 4i feet. Forest grown trees tall, slender, 

 f ■ from lateral branchep for a considerable distance from the base, with a rather compact 

 low crown. Open grown trees short-trunked, covered with many lateral branches which 

 utten drooping below and erect above, forming a dense, deep, symmetrical crown. 



ARK — Very close, smooth, light gray, mottled with dark spots. It invites the cutting 



0 nitials and other outline carvings. See Fig. 92. 



WIGS — Slender, dailc yellow to gray, at first hairy, later smooth, zigzag, covered with 

 y owish lenticels, and marked by iDud-scale scars. 



JDS — Alternate; terminal bud present; five times as long as wide, slender, sharp-pointed, 

 cal, usually smooth, covered by 10-20 reddish-brown bud-scales with hairy margins. 



lAVES — Altei-nate, simple, ovate, 3-4 inches long, stiff leathery, with tapering apex and 



•p-tocthed margin; light green above, yellowish-green below, 



;AF-SCARS — Raised, crescent-shapcid 'to elliptical with a few scattered bundle-sca(rs. 

 !(■ scars narrow, almost encircling twig; one end of each stipule-scar is raised above the 

 end. 



jOWERS — Appear about April when leaves are one-third developed. Staminate flowers 



tti stalked round head about one inch in diameter; pistillate flowers in 2-flowered clusters 

 f:a the axil of the upper leaves. 



ilTJIT — A stalked, prickly, 4-valved bur containing triangular pale brown, shining nuts 

 Ml sweet edible kernel. 



GOD — Diffuse-porous with minute pores; broad medullary rays present with narrow ones 

 lirvenlng; hard, strong, tough, not durable, difiBcult to season, light red in color. Weighs 

 41 f) lbs. per cubic foot. Used for railroad ties, parquet flooring, novelty wares, carpenter 

 t(5, fuel, and charcoal. 



;STINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The American Beech can readily be distinguished by 

 i1 close, smooth, light gray bark, its simple, leathery, often persistent leaves, its prickly 

 8 stalked fruit with triangular seeds, and its long, slender, conical, sharp-pointed reddish- 

 fa vn buds. 



INGE — Nova Scotia to Ontario and Wisconsin, south to Florida and Texas. 



[STRIBTTTIOIT IN PENNSYLVANIA— Found in every part of the State, but most abundant 

 li:ho northern part. Local in the southeastern and southwestern parts. 



ABITAT — Commonly found on rich moist bottom lands, but is also abundant on gravelly 

 files and rich uplands. It endures dense shade and variations of temperature. 



IPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES— This species was formerly not of very much commercial 

 iiortance, but it is now becoming more important since the process of timber impregnation 

 h; been developed. It furnishes excellent fuel and in some regions it is now converted into 

 rjroad ties and also manufactured into various by-products on a rather extensive scale. 



1 :aDnot, however, be recommended for extensive planting for forestry purposes but should 

 b' retained and developed in the farmer's woodlot where the production of fuel is important. 

 I the future when more intensive systems of forest management have been developed it 

 c be used for underplanting and as a soil conserver. 



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