Tree of the Week: American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

There are two American beech trees in the arboretum collection. Both have ripening fruit falling this week, and both can be found in the same area of the arboretum, near Hamilton Hall. Jack Price donated these two trees and they were planted during September 1988, which means they are both, at minimum, 35 years old. The pictures below are of a single specimen, the larger of the two trees. It's larger, perhaps because over the decades it has had access to more sunlight.

Our tree of the week is pictured center. It grows at the top of a slope near Hamilton Hall. To its left we see a mature loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and a mature water oak (Quercus nigra). Given the proximity of the much older pine and oak trees, our American beech has significant competition for water and sunlight. Fortunately, the American beech has a reputation for being shade tolerant. A small chinquipin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) is pictured on the far right, near the cat (Felis catus). Meow!

The American beech grows next to the intersection of two gravel paths, necessitating the removal of its lower branches.

From another angle, we see that the straight trunk appears to lean slightly to the left.

On the gravel path beneath the American beech, we see its fruits and husks, mixed in with some pine straw of course.

Looking upward from the ground, we see a single fruit. Since the lower limbs have been removed, without the aid of a ladder, we cannot closely examine the fruits that are still attached to the tree.

However, there are plenty of leaves to study at ground level.

It appears that the American beech suffered during the August heat wave: leaf edges are crispy.

This tree grows in the older section of the arboretum, and while the irrigation system was running at reduced pressure, it was still operational during much of August, unlike on the other side of the arboretum, where the irrigation system was completely off for two weeks.

With a ladder, we can see a whole lot more! The interesting fruiting structure, called a cupule, is cracked open.

Twigs were snipped for measurement and comparative photos. This twig does not have any fruit.

We see simple, alternating leaves with serrate margins and short petioles, as well as sharply pointed dark brown leaf buds.

Turning the leaves over, we can better appreciate the highly textured leaf surface resulting from the pronounced venation.

Also, zooming in on the twig, we see white fuzzy stuff on the leaves and twig. A twig with fruits looks a little different....

This twig was snipped with the aid of a ladder. Several cupules are attached. All are open and intact.

This cupule hasn't dried out completely. Although not visible from this angle, the cupule has opened slightly.

Zooming in on the twig, we see that it is significantly fuzzier than the non-fruiting twig, and there is a pointed leaf bud tucked in beside the cupule.

The cupules measure between a ½ inch and ¾ inch in length, and they are uniformly covered in curved spikes.

The cupules are fuzzy. The little spikes look threatening, but they are harmless. Compare this with the vicious hybrid chestnut in the arboretum collection (see Dunstan here).

This cupule had to be pulled apart to reveal the fruits of the American beech, two edible nuts, which are still green. Each nut has three flat sides. Don't eat too many.

Fall Foliage of the American Beech

An American beech (Fagus grandifolia) is pictured between an old loblolly pine and an old water oak. This specimen was featured as a 'tree of the week' on July 15, 2017. You can read about it here. Or just enjoy the pretty colors.

 

 

 

All photos were taken on December 2, 2018.

Tardily Deciduous

At the end of February a couple of our deciduous trees are still hanging on to their old leaves, clinging to the past. 

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria)

Tree of the Week: American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

The American beech (Fagus grandifolia) is our shade tree of the week. The two American beeches in the arboretum collection were donated by Jack Price and planted in September 1988. They provide ample shade for the gravel pathway that runs along the brick wall near Hamilton Hall. This is a particularly shady spot of the arboretum, as there are several massive on-site natives trees. The photos below were taken shortly after noon on a partly cloudy day.

The gravel pathway running parallel to the brick wall is shaded by two American beeches (Fagus grandifolia). A very large loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) separates the beeches, with a water oak (Quercus nigra) in the background, closer to the wall.The photos below are of the beech on the right side of the photograph.

The two American beeches in the collection are planted at the top of a slope. The noon sun is lighting up the grass on the opposite side of the gravel path.

Fagus grandifolia provides dense shade, making it difficult for anything to grow underneath it.

The dark green foliage of Fagus grandifolia.

An abandoned exoskeleton clings to a twig of the Fagus grandifolia. The underside of the leaves shows a characteristic vein pattern.

Not much light shines through the dense leaf layers.

The thin papery bark seems to show every little nick or scrape.

Shallow roots of Fagus grandifolia make it difficult to mow, but luckily not much grows to necessitate mowing.

You can find more pictures of the arboretum's American beeches here.

For more information about this species consult the following:
Louisiana Plant Identification and Interactive Virtual Tours (LSU AgCenter)
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment 
United States Department of Agriculture

Fagus grandifolia

 

 The bright green, alternate leaves of Fagus grandifolia have toothed margins and are generally 3-4" long.

 

Brilliant orange Louisiana-autumn foliage of Fagus grandifolia.

Bark detail.