European beech - KPU Plant DB

Scientific Name:

Fagus sylvatica

Pronunciation:

FAY-gus sil-VAT-ih-kuh

Common Name:

European beech

Family Name:

Fagaceae

Plant Type:

Tree - deciduous

Key ID Features:

Leaves alternate, most blades broadly elliptic (some ovate or obovate), 5-9cm long x 3-6cm wide, glossy, (5-)7-9 pairs of parallel major veins, margin usually ciliate, undulate and entire, most petioles 5-12mm long;. Winter ID: mature bark smooth, dark grey, with a horizontal pattern (resemble an elephant's skin or leg); buds with few scales, narrowly conical, most 1-2.5cm long x 4-5mm wide, pointed, spear-like, divergent, reddish-brown with grey fuzz.

Habit:

Spreading

Form:

Oval - horizontal, Oval - vertical, Round

Texture:

Medium

Mature Height:

22 - 30m

Mature Spread:

15 - 25m

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Origin:

Europe

Hardiness Rating:

Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)

Exposure:

Full sun

Soil/Growing Medium:

Alkaline, Rocky or gravelly or dry, Well-drained

Water Use:

Moderate

Landscape Uses:

Fall interest, Hedge row, Herb, Screening, Sheared hedge, Specimen plant, Topiary, Wildlife food, Wind break

Additional Info:

Google. Cultivars shown may include F. 'Bornyensis' (large, green, weeping). See separate entries for other cultivars on campus.

Leaf Morphology:

Glossary

Form:

Simple

Arrangement:

Alternate

Texture/Venation:

Soft flexible, Heavily veined, Pinnate venation

Surfaces:

Lustrous, Glandular hairs

Colour in Fall:

Green, Yellow, Red, Bronze

Shapes:

Elliptic, Obovate, Ovate

Apices:

Acute

Bases:

Cuneate

Margins:

Ciliate, Entire, Undulate (wavy)

Additional Info:

Spectacular fall colour

Inflorescence Type:

Catkin (ament)

Flower Morphology:

Monoecious plant

Number Of Petals:

0

Ovary Position:

Superior

Colour (petals):

Not showy, Green-yellow

Flower Scent:

None

Flower Time at Peak:

Apr, May

Additional Info:

Male florets in catkins; female flowers in pairs in leaf axils; each with single compound pistil involving two carpels each with one ovule

Fruit Type:

Edible, Nut, Schizocarp

Fruit Colour:

Brown

Fruiting Time:

Sep, Oct

Additional Info:

Showy, Edible, Capsule-like ~2cm long x 3cm wide, bristly husk that opens in 4 parts to reveal 2 brown triangular "nuts" (must be cooked before eating)