Fagus sylvatica (Common or European Beech)

Common Name: Common or European Beech

The Common or European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is native to southern England and South Wales and throughout central and western Europe, and it has been introduced widely elsewhere in the UK. Mature trees grow to a height of more than 40m and develop a huge domed crown. The bark is smooth, thin and grey, often with slight horizontal etchings. The reddish brown, torpedo-shaped leaf buds form on short stalks and have a distinctive criss-cross pattern. Young leaves are lime green with silky hairs. As they mature they become darker green and lose their hairs. They are 4–9cm long, stalked, oval and pointed at the tip, with a wavy edge.

Beech is monoecious, meaning both male and female flowers grow on the same tree. In April and May the tassel-like male catkins hang from long stalks at the end of twigs, while female flowers grow in pairs, surrounded by a cup. The cup becomes woody once pollinated, and encloses one or two beech nuts (known as beechmast). Beech is wind pollinated.

Beech is usually found on drier or free-draining soils. It grows best on chalk, limestone, light loams and sandy soils. Beech woodland casts deep shade and produces a dense leaf litter which often suppresses ground flora, and only specialist shade tolerant plants survive beneath the canopy.

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