American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

[ Trees > Hardwoods . . . ]      Forest Type: Beech-Maple

by Michael Kuo

Habitat: Growing with other hardwoods (especially maples) in moist areas; cloning itself copiously and producing numerous saplings near mature trees.

Stature: 60-100 feet high; to 3 feet in diameter; with a rounded crown.

Leaves: Alternate; 2-6 inches long; dark green above, yellowish green below; pointed-elliptical; coarsely toothed; beautifully orange in the fall.

Bark: Thin; bluish gray; smooth; distinctive (I think beech trunks look like elephant or rhinoceros legs).

Fruit: A triangular nut under 1 inch long, with a spiny covering.

Source: Preston, R. J. (1989). North American Trees. Ames: Iowa State UP.

Frequent Mushroom Associates:

Many species of Amanita, including Amanita banningiana; many Boletes, including Boletellus pseudochrysenteroides, Boletus atkinsonii, Boletus rubellus; many species of Cortinarius, including Cortinarius marylandensis and Cortinarius corrugatus; Climacodon septentrionale; Hymenoscyphus fructigenus; Laccaria amethystina; Lactarius gerardii var. fagicola; Phlebia incarnata; Pluteus lutescens; and many others.

Further Online Information:

American Beech USFS Fact Sheet (PDF)
American Beech at eNature

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2005, January). American Beech (Fagus grandifolia). Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/trees/fagus_grandifolia.html