American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) Ehrhart, 1788

 

Synonyms:Fagus alba, Fagus americana, Fagus ferruginea, Fagus sylvatica var. americana, Fagus virginiana

 

 

Fagus grandifolia is a tree native to southeast Canada and the eastern United States: from Ontario to Nova Scotia, and south to eastern Texas and northern Florida. It grows in moist, well-drained soils in deciduous and mixed forests and woodlands, often in association with Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis), and Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis); 0-1,000 m. American Beech grows up to 20-35 m in height. The bark is smooth and silver-gray. The buds are long and thin; the leaves are ovate, with toothed margins. This species flowers from April to June; the male flowers are arranged in drooping globoid clusters, and the female flowers in pairs on a stout peduncle. The fruit is a triangular nut enclosed by spiny bracts; 15-20 mm wide. Beech nut are an important food resource for many wildlife species, including American Black Bear (Ursus americanus).

 

		D63781 American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), autumn foliage Fitzroy Provincial Park Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved

 

		D63779 American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), autumn foliage Fitzroy Provincial Park Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		10467 American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) Backus Woods Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved

 

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