Specimen record
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
Description
A stately forest tree easily recognized by its smooth, pale gray bark that persists into old age — unlike most hardwoods whose bark becomes furrowed. American beech produces small triangular nuts enclosed in spiny burs that are relished by wildlife. Young beech trees retain their pale tan dead leaves through winter (marcescence), rustling in the wind and making them conspicuous in the winter forest.
Identification tips
- 1Smooth, pale silver-gray bark even on large old trees (distinctive among hardwoods)
- 2Long, slender, cigar-shaped pointed winter buds
- 3Simple elliptical leaves with straight parallel veins ending in coarse teeth
- 4Small triangular nuts in pairs inside a spiny, 4-valved bur
- 5Young trees retain dead tan leaves through winter (marcescent foliage)
Specimen & preservation notes
Press leaves that show the parallel venation and toothed margin clearly. Collect the spiny bur with nuts inside — halve it to show the triangular nut shape. A winter twig showing the long pointed buds makes an excellent supplementary specimen. Bark photographs are useful since the smooth bark cannot be rubbed.
Habitats
Collection calendar
| Wk | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||||
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| 4 |
Collection notes
Season check
Observed bloom also extends into April.
Flowering records: 5 iNaturalist observations, Massachusetts · Nearby: 860 observations within 25 km