American Beech
Arbor Walk #48, Treekeeper ID #1979
This tree has dark green leaves which turn bronze in the fall. Its flowers are yellowish-green, and the female flowers yield edible beechnuts which ripen in the fall. It is native to Missouri and mostly found in the Bootheel area of the state.
The American Beech can easily be recognized by its distinctive long, pointy buds. This tree was actually originally recognized by the colonists, as it closely resembles the European Beech. Both bear edible beechnuts, mostly eaten by wildlife, and interestingly, the bark of the American Beech stays smooth with age unlike most trees. It is also an imprtant host species to the Early Hairstreak (Erora laeta).
| Common Names | American Beech, White Beech, Red Beech |
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| Latin Name | Fagus grandifolia |
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