American Beech - Fagus grandifolia
Common Names: beech, carolina beech, gray beech, red beech, ridge beech, stone beech, white beech, winter beech.
Genus: Fagus
Species: grandifolia
The American Beech tree grows in the southern and eastern parts of the United States. It grows in deciduous forests all over Maine and northern Massachusetts. It grows best in deep, rich, moist, well-drained soils.
The American beech is a tall and wide tree. The mature tree size is anywhere from 90 to 100 feet tall, and spreads 50 to 70 feet. The bark that grows on the tree is very smooth, pale and gray. The growth buds have a
yellow tinge, looking a little like a bullet. The leaves are bright green and are about three inches in length. They start wide, and then get smaller and smaller, until they come to a point. The leaves have distinct, strong veins and toothed edges.
The American Beech tree does not like city living, probably because of the carbon monoxide. The American Beech tree has a shallow root system and likes bottom land, and upland soil. There are two reasons why it is hard to grow anything beneath the tree. The first is because the leaves that grow on the tree block the sunlight and keep the ground constantly in shade. The second reason is because much of the root system grows all over the ground's surface, and uses any moisture that may reach the ground.
There are many different uses for the American Beech tree. This is a list of some of the things this tree is used for: furniture such as cabinets, benches, stools and tables.
The American Beech tree produces a lot of paper. The animals that feed on the nuts that grow on this tree are: the opossum, black bears, white-tailed deer, rabbits, ruffed grouse, red and gray squirrels, flying foxes, porcupines and others.
The American Beech tree helps people because the nuts that fall off the tree can be harvested and sold for food. The american Beech's population is healthy throughout its range.
Davey C. 2001
bibliography:
"American Beech",
http://www.yale.edu/fes505b/beech.html ,
(Jan, 2001)
"Fagus grandifolia",
http://www.bcc.orst.edu/hort226/fagr.htm ,
(Jan, 2001).
"Fagus grandifolia--American Beech",
http://www.msue.msu.edu/imp/mod03/01700395.html
(Jan. 2001).
Zim,Herbert S., Martian, Alexander C., Trees, Golden Press, New York
"American Beech",
http://www.windsorplywood.com/northamerican/American Beech.html,
(Jan. 2001).
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