American beech

Description:

A tall deciduous hardwood tree native to eastern North America. The bark is smooth, compact and gray. The leaves have textbook pinnate venation and toothed margins.

Habitat:

Mixed woods.

Notes:

Beech trees are sometimes called "sweetheart trees" because the smooth bark is particularly attractive to those who carve initials into trees. This, of course, can introduce pathogens and cause other damage. While deciduous, many thin, light, tan-colored leaves remain on the tree throughout winter until displaced by new leaves in the spring. This gives the tree the appearance of being decorated with pieces of translucent parchment. The nuts are edible, and the wood is used in furniture and for other purposes.