American Beech

Description:

The first picture shows a one-armed, but substantially sized example of American Beech. These trees can grow quite large, but are often afflicted by heartrot, where their inner wood is eaten away, making them excellent homes for wildlife species which utilize cavities for nesting, such as Raccoons and many bird species. However, all that missing wood means less support for branches when in full leaf. The rest of this specimen was laying around the base, decomposing. In the second picture is a smaller Beech, showing the unmistakable enlongated cigar-shaped buds, and yellowed leaves. The dead leaves on Beech, and sometimes on their cousins, Oaks, will stay on long into the winter. Their bark is also a key indicator; smooth and gray, it is often preyed upon by woodpeckers looking for insects, and Slobbus americanus, which often carve their initials into the soft wood. :)

Habitat:

I've found these anywhere from the bottom of ridges to the high-middle point. They thrive in a mixed mesophytic system, and are shade tolerant like maples, allowing them to grow in a wide range.

Notes:

The one thing I wished I could have had pictured along with the buds and leaves would be the fruit. It's a small nut, usually appearing in pairs. It's covered by a spiny husk, and is said to be rather good to eat.