American Beech

American Beech ~ Fagus grandifolia

This tree can be located right by the parking lot going to the real turfgrass soccer field. It can be found typically growing in deciduous or mixed evergreen-deciduous forests. In the wild, beeches often form thickets or colonies by suckering from the shallow roots. This tree is important to me because its various features really make it stick out in any forest or landscape. Its smooth, light gray bark is the first key takeaway. Next is its nut which has involucre bracts which are modified leaflets that grow at the base of an inflorescence or flower (similar to the cap on an acorn!). Also birds eat the nuts.

One important thing to note about this species, in particular, is that it is currently falling victim to a fungus called Nectria. Nectria fungus blisters the bark and weakens the tree. Con you spot the fungus on the pictures?