A large tree up to 75 – 100 feet with a rounded crown. Due to its shallow roots, it is often found in thickets produced by root suckering ,surrounded by a ring of young beech trees. One of the two deciduous trees that hold on to its pale leaves through the winter and early spring. Smooth bark traditionally falls victim to initial carving vandals. Earliest Sanskrit characters were carved on strips of beech bark. Nuts are utilized by forest wildlife, including deer, black bear, raccoon, squirrels, grouse and wild turkey. Commonly used for flooring, furniture, woodenware and veneer. Known as a good fuel wood. A member of the Beech Family.
Oblong to oval, 2 ½- 5 1/2” long with a pointed tip and 9-14 pairs of veins, each ending in a distinct tooth. Green above, paler below.
Smooth, thin and light gray. Grows darker with age, but remains smooth and unbroken unless cracked by insects.
Slender, zigzag, pointed,shiny brown buds ¾” -1”. Buds covered with overlapping cigar shaped scales, looking much like thorns.
Prickly spines cover an irregularly triangular woody husk,1/2 – ¾” long. Two to threeedible nuts mature in fall.
Species is unisexual – male flowers on round heads hanging from slender stalks. Female flowers borne on short spikes appearing after leaves in spring.