Beech facts for kids
The Beech is a type of large tree that belongs to the Fagus group in the plant family called Fagaceae. There are about 10 different kinds of Beech trees. You can find them naturally growing in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Quick facts for kids Beech |
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Beech trees have small flowers. Each tree has both male and female flowers (this is called monoecious). The female flowers grow in pairs. The male flowers are like hanging tassels called catkins. Wind carries the pollen from the male flowers to the female flowers. These flowers appear in spring, soon after the new leaves grow.
The bark of a Beech tree is smooth and light gray. The fruit of the tree is a small, three-sided nut, about 10–15 millimeters long. These nuts are safe to eat, but they can taste a bit bitter. They are often called beechnuts or beechmast.
Beech trees can grow in many different types of soil. They do well in both acidic and basic soils. The most important thing is that the soil isn't too wet for long periods. The branches of a Beech tree spread out wide, creating a lot of shade below. When their leaves fall, they cover the ground thickly. Because of this, not many other plants can grow under Beech trees.
In North America, Beech trees often grow with Sugar Maple trees. When they grow together, they form what are known as Beech-Maple forests.
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What is Beechwood Used For?
People have used Beech wood for thousands of years. The wood is usually white, but it can look reddish if the tree grew in acidic soil. It has a fine grain, meaning it's very smooth. When it's first cut, it's heavy. However, it might crack as it dries.
Beech wood is great for making many things, such as:
- Ornaments
- Handles for tools
- Kitchen utensils
- Furniture
- Parts of buildings
Beech wood also burns very well. It's used to smoke foods like herring fish in Scotland. You can also turn Beech wood into charcoal.
Southern Beech Trees
There's another group of trees called Southern Beeches (Nothofagus). People used to think they were closely related to regular Beech trees. But now, scientists say they belong to a completely different family called Nothofagaceae. You can find Southern Beeches in places like Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Argentina, and Chile.
Beech Tree Pests and Diseases
Like all trees, Beech trees can get pests and diseases. One common pest is the beech blight aphid (Grylloprociphilus imbricator). Also, some types of butterflies and moths eat Beech leaves. You can find a list of these insects in the article about moths and butterflies that feed on beech trees.
Images for kids
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Leaf of Fagus sylvatica
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Beechnuts in autumn
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European beech (Fagus sylvatica)
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Beeches in Ehrenbach, Germany
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North American beech, seen in autumn
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Chinese beech (Fagus engleriana)
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Beech Tree photographed by Eugène Atget, circa 1910–1915
See also
In Spanish: Hayas para niños
