Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

Form

A tall and slender tree in the forest, with a narrow crown; in the open, with a short, thick trunk and broad, compact, rounded crown. Usually attains heights of 50 to 75 feet.

Bark

Most distinctive, it maintains a smooth, steelgray surface throughout its life.

Leaf

Simple, oval leaves 3 to 4 inches long, pointed at the apex and coarsely toothed, becoming leathery when mature. Persist on the tree in the winter.

Fruit

A stalked, prickly 4-valved bur, containing usually 2 triangular, shiny brown nuts with a sweet, edible kernel.

Range

Found in eastern Wisconsin on fertile, well-drained soils derived from limestone. In the vicinity of Racine, it reaches only a few miles inland from Lake Michigan, but farther north it extends as far west as the Wolf River in Langlade County.

Wood

Hard and strong, but not durable; is used for chairs, tool handles, lumber and fuelwood. Although beech is not a highly commercial species, it should be retained whenever possible for its wildlife value. It is desirable for landscape work because of its beauty and freedom from insect pests.