Beech, Common
The Common Beech, is a charismatic and beautiful broadleaved deciduous tree, that can grow to a height of more than 40m, and may live for 350 years, although 250 years may be more typical.
The bark is smooth, thin and grey, often with slight horizontal etchings. The reddish brown, torpedo-shaped leaf buds form on short stalks and have a distinctive criss-cross pattern.
This tree was planted in 1950.
Photo supplied by: Alan Payne
Common Name:
Common Beech
Scentific Name:
Fagus sylvatica
Tree No.:
95
Location:
H22
The best time to see a Common Beech is the spring and autumn for its colour.
Young leaves are lime green with silky hairs. As they mature they become darker green and lose their hairs. They are 4–9cm long, stalked, oval and pointed at the tip, with a wavy edge.
Credit: This could be your image
Beech is monoecious, meaning both male and female flowers grow on the same tree. In April and May the tassel-like male catkins hang from long stalks at the end of twigs, while female flowers grow in pairs, surrounded by a cup.
Credit: This could be your image
The cup becomes woody once pollinated, and encloses one or two beech nuts. Beech is wind pollinated.
Credit: This could be your image
The Common Beech is native to the UK and found across a large part of Europe from southern Sweden to northern Sicily. It requires a humid atmosphere and well-drained soil. It can be sensitive to winter frost.
In the UK, common beech is only considered truly native to south-east England and south-east Wales. It grows in woods or as single trees, usually on drier, free-draining soils.
Beech woodland is shady and characterised by a dense carpet of fallen leaves and mast husks which prevent most woodland plants from growing. Only specialist shade-tolerant plants can survive beneath a beech canopy.
Due to its dense canopy, rarer plant species are associated with beech woodland. Beech woodland provides an important habitat for many butterflies, particularly in open glades and along woodland rides.
Beech foliage is eaten by the caterpillars of moths. The seeds are eaten by rodents, squirrels and birds.
Native truffle fungi grow in beech woods. These fungi are ectomycorrhizal, which means they help the host tree to obtain nutrients in exchange for some of the sugar the tree produces through photosynthesis.
Beech timber is suitable for a variety of purposes, including fuel, furniture, cooking utensils, tool handles and sports equipment. The wood burns well and was traditionally used to smoke herring.
The edible nuts, or masts, were once fed to pigs, and in France the nuts are still sometimes roasted and used as a coffee substitute.
Beech makes a popular hedging plant. If clipped it doesn’t shed its leaves, and creates a year-round dense screen, which provides a great habitat for garden birds.
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