Scientific name - Fagus sylvatica

Synonyms --

Popular names - Beech, European Beech

Distribution and Habitat - spontaneously in Europe, the Balkans, Crimea. Grows at an altitude ranging between 300 - 1200 m. In addition to habitat or continuous beech longer meets only sporadically in the form of clusters or as isolated specimens.

Description - tree 18-28 m, 50-120 cm diameter trunk, right stem, bark gray with white spots, smooth lasts until old age. The massive strain lacks the major branches of lengths, in particular to its base. Crown quite rich, the massive and narrow ovoid-latita on isolated trees, take up close to the strain. Lujerii thin, with white lenticele are hairy to the top. Frunzele ovata, subrotunde, or elliptic, acute or rounded at the base cuneata wide, entire or sinuous, rarely acute tooth, 7-12 cm long, 5-7 cm wide, dark green face, shiny, pale green inside , glabra. Stalks of 5.12 mm long. Buds are fusiform, pointed, 1-3 cm long, brown scales. Flower, unisexuat-mono, is in the male perigonul campanulata, the cup 1-3 cm long. Period of bloom from April to May, with înfrunzirea; anemofila pollination. Fruits (Jir) are achenes of 1-2 cm, with sharp, brown-red, are placed in a bucket by two barbed, which in baking (September-October), is dissolved in four valves. Longevity 300-400 years.

Tolerances - less resistant to frost, drought and heat strong. Is sensitive to late frosts, which may partially or totally destroys the foliage of trees. The leaves are very sensitive to cold. Vegeteaza well on brown forest soil, Podzoluri weak acid side, back, porous, deep and is calcifil at higher altitudes. Frequently meets and the crystalline schists, granite, sandstone and conglomerates. It grows well on soils too compact, like those too wet or flooded.

Requirements - species ombrofila and umidofila, North Mainland.

Cultivars and varieties - 'Ansorgei', 'Dawyck', 'Pendula', 'Purpurea', 'Purpurea Pendula,''Roseomarginata', 'Zlata' var. heterophylla, var. caroliniana.

Properties and Uses - hardwood, elastic medium, but the tendency of cracking and deformation, white-reddish, without duramen, large medullary rays, visible annual rings.

In forestry, favorably influence the hydrological regime, crown retaining large amounts of water on the foliage, which currently runs on ground containinguu, making water infiltration into the soil to be fast and unlimited, protecting soil from erosion.

Beech is widely considered to dress and crown and foliage often, a manufacturer of shade. Its many varieties and shapes with colored leaves, sectors or industries Pendente are recommended for small groups or as isolated specimens on lawns.

References

Burton V. Barnes, Warren H. Wagner - Michigan Trees - University of Michigan Press, 2004

Karan Junker - Gardening with Woodland Plants - Timber Press, 2007

Michael A. Dirr - Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs - Timber Press, 1997

Richard J. Jr. Preston, Richard R. Braham - North American Trees - Wiley-Bòackwell, 1991

Susan A. Roth - Taylor's Guide to Trees - Houghton Mifflin, 2001