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The '''European Beech''' or '''Common Beech''' (''Fagus sylvatica'') is a [[deciduous]] [[tree]] belonging to the [[beech]] family [[Fagaceae]].

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[[Image:European Beech.jpg|thumb|left|European Beech shoot with nut cupules]]

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It is a large [[tree]], capable of reaching heights of up to 49 m (160 ft) tall<ref>{{cite web | url = http://82.94.219.20/~jpa/tall%20trees.htm | title = Tall Trees}}</ref> and 3m (10 ft) trunk diameter, though more typically 25-35 m (80-115 ft) tall and up to 1.5 m (5 ft) trunk diameter. A 10-year-old sapling will stand about 4 m (13 ft) tall. It has a typical lifespan of 150 to 200 years, though sometimes up to 300 years. The appearance varies according to its [[habitat]]; in forest conditions, it tends to have a long, slender light-gray trunk with a narrow crown and erect branches, in isolation with good side light the trunk is short with a large and widely spreading crown with very long branches.

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The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternate, simple, and entire or with a slightly crenate margin, 5-10 cm long and 3-7 cm broad, with 6-7 veins on each side of the leaf (7-10 veins in ''Fagus orientalis''). When crenate, there is one point at each vein tip, never any points between the veins. The [[bud]]s are long and slender, 15-30 mm long and 2-3 mm thick, but thicker (to 4-5 mm) where the buds include flower buds.

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The leaves of beech are often not [[abscission|abscissed]] in the autumn and instead remain on the tree until the spring. This process is called [[marcescence]]. This particularly occurs when trees are [[sapling|saplings]] but often continues to occur on the lower branches when the tree is mature.

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The European Beech starts to [[flower]] when it is between 30-80 years old. The flowers are small [[catkin]]s which appear shortly after the leaves in spring. The [[seed]]s, called beechnuts, are small triangular [[Nut (fruit)|nuts]] 15-20 mm long and 7-10 mm wide at the base; there are two nuts in each cupule, maturing in the autumn 5-6 months after pollination. Flower and seed production is particularly abundant in years following a hot, sunny and dry summer, though rarely for two years in a row. The nuts are an important food for [[bird]]s, [[rodent]]s and in the past also [[human|people]], although they are only very rarely eaten by man. Slightly toxic to man if eaten in large quantities due to the [[tannin]]s they contain, the nuts were nonetheless pressed to obtain an oil in 19th century England that was used for cooking and in lamps. They were also ground to make flour, which could be eaten after the [[tannin|tannins]] were leached out by soaking.

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Climate and temperatures vary, though humidity needs to be constant. Little is required of the soil so long as it is well drained. Though not demanding of its soil type, the European Beech has several significant requirements: a humid atmosphere (precipitation well distributed throughout the year and frequent fogs) and well drained soil (it can not handle excessive [[stagnant water]]). It prefers moderately fertile ground, calcified or lightly acidic, therefore it is found more often on the side of a hill than at the bottom of a clayey basin. It tolerates rigorous winter cold, but is sensitive to spring frost. In [[Norway]]'s [[oceanic climate]] planted trees grow well as far north as in [[Trondheim]].

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[[Image:Brussels Zonienwoud.jpg|thumb|Even, dense and old stand of beech trees prepared to be regenerated (watch the young trees underneath the old ones) in the [[Brussels]] part of the ''[[Sonian Forest]]'']]

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A beech forest is very dark and few species of plant are able to survive there, where the sun barely reaches the ground. Young beeches prefer some shade and may grow poorly in full sunlight. In a clear-cut forest a European Beech will germinate and then die of excessive dryness. Under [[oak]]s with sparse leaf cover it will quickly surpass them in height and, due to the beech's dense foliage, the oaks will die from lack of sunlight. Foresters may assure the oaks' survival by cutting young beeches with a billhook 10 cm off the ground, which can produce magnificent [[bonsai]].

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In the woodlands of southern Britain, beech is dominant over oak and elm south of a line from about north Suffolk across to Cardigan. Oak are the dominant forest trees north of this line. One of the most beautiful European Beech forests called [[Sonian Forest]] (''Forêt de Soignes/Zoniënwoud'') is found in the southeast of [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]]. Beech is a dominant tree species in France and constitutes about 10% of French forests.

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Fagus sylvatica, Linn. European Beech. Tree, to 80 ft., or rarely 100 ft.: Ivs. ovate or elliptic, remotely denticulate, silky beneath and ciliate when young, with 5-9 pairs of veins, dark green and glossy above, pale beneath, 2—4 in. long: involucre with mostly upright prickles, about 1 in. high. Cent. and S. Eu. Caucasus. A great number of varieties are in cult., of which the following are the most remarkable: Var. pendula, Lodd. With long, pendulous  branches, the larger limbs mostly horizontaly spreading.

Fagus sylvatica, Linn. European Beech. Fig. 1475. Tree, to 80 ft., or rarely 100 ft.: Ivs. ovate or elliptic, remotely denticulate, silky beneath and ciliate when young, with 5-9 pairs of veins, dark green and glossy above, pale beneath, 2—4 in. long: involucre with mostly upright prickles, about 1 in. high. Cent. and S. Eu. Caucasus. M.D.G. 1902:579-582. H.W. 2:20, pp. 4. 43. F.E. 33:615. Fig. 1475 contrasts the lv of the American and European species. A great number of varieties are in cult., of which the following are the most remarkable: Var. pendula,Lodd. Fig. 1476. With long, pendulous  branches, the larger limbs mostly horizontaly spreading. G.C. III. 51:114. G.W. 15, p. 662. B.F 1907,

 

A form with very dark purple lvs. and of compact habit is var. Riversii. Hort. There are other forms, differing in the shade of purple, as var. cuprea, Hort., and also some with rosy pink variegated lvs. Var. purpurea pendula, Hort., has purple lvs. and pendulous branches, but is of slow growth. Var. Zlatia, Spaeth, has yellow foliage. Var. heterophylla, Loud. (var. asplenifolia, Lodd.). Lvs. deeply cut, often almost to the midrib, into narrow lobes. A very graceful variety, forming a dense and low, shrubby tree.Less important varieties, but sometimes grown,are the following: Var. cristata, Lodd., with deeply toothed, curled, small and clustered lvs.: of slow growth. Var. incisa, Hort. Similar to var. heterophylla, but lvs. less deeply cut. Var. macrophylla, Hort. lvs. large, to 5 in. long. Var.quercifolia, Schelle (var. quercoides, Hort.). With deeply toothed and sinuate, rather narrow lvs. Var. quercoides, Pers., often confused with var. quercifolia, is a form with dark and rough, oak-like bark.  

A form with very dark purple lvs. and of compact habit is var. Riversii. Hort. There are other forms, differing in the shade of purple, as var. cuprea, Hort., and also some with rosy pink variegated lvs. Var. purpurea pendula, Hort., has purple lvs. and pendulous branches, but is of slow growth. Var. Zlatia, Spaeth, has yellow foliage. Var. heterophylla, Loud. (var. asplenifolia, Lodd.). Lvs. deeply cut, often almost to the midrib, into narrow lobes. A very graceful variety, forming a dense and low, shrubby tree.Less important varieties, but sometimes grown,are the following: Var. cristata, Lodd., with deeply toothed, curled, small and clustered lvs.: of slow growth. Var. incisa, Hort. Similar to var. heterophylla, but lvs. less deeply cut. Var. macrophylla, Hort. lvs. large, to 5 in. long. Var.quercifolia, Schelle (var. quercoides, Hort.). With deeply toothed and sinuate, rather narrow lvs. Var. quercoides, Pers., often confused with var. quercifolia, is a form with dark and rough, oak-like bark.  

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