Beech (Fagaceae)

ISM Herbarium : Trees : Beech (Fagaceae)

Fagus grandiflora (Beech)
Beech trees grow to 60 to 80 feet tall in moist rich soils of uplands or well-drained lowland soils. they grow in all states east of the Mississippi River and locally in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas. In Wisconsin they are limited to the extreme eastern area, and in Illinois to the far south and southeast.
The pointed, oval, dull bluish-green leaves are 2 1/2" to five inches long in two rows on the twigs. Bark is light gray and thin. Yellowish male flowers are clustered into a ball shape on a stalk (shown here). Female flowers are 1/4" inch long are near hairy red scales (shown here). Fruits grow to 3/4" long as a light brown prickly bur containing two edible nuts.

Collection of the Illinois State Museum
ISM Herbarium Sheet #: 35718

ISM Herbarium : Trees : Beech (Fagaceae)

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