Mexican beech facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mexican beech |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Fagus
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| Species: |
mexicana
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| Natural range of Fagus grandifolia subsp. mexicana in red (subsp. grandifolia in green) | |
The Fagus mexicana, also known as the Mexican beech or haya, is a special type of beech tree. It is found only in certain parts of northeastern and central Mexico. This tree grows in states like Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Hidalgo, Veracruz, and Puebla. You can find it in cool, misty places called Tropical montane cloud forests, especially in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains.
The Mexican beech is very similar to the American beech (Fagus grandifolia). Because they are so alike, many scientists consider the Mexican beech to be a subspecies of the American beech. Its full scientific name is often written as Fagus grandifolia subsp. mexicana.
What the Mexican Beech Looks Like
The Mexican beech is a deciduous tree. This means it loses its leaves every year, usually in autumn. It can grow very tall, reaching heights of 25 to 40 meters (about 82 to 130 feet). Its trunk can also become quite wide, up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) across.
Leaves and Buds
The leaves of the Mexican beech grow alternately along the branches. They are simple, meaning each leaf has one blade. The edges of the leaves are slightly toothed. These leaves are usually smaller than those of the American beech. They measure about 5 to 8 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) long and 3 to 5 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) wide.
Before the leaves fully open, you can see the tree's buds. They are long and slender, measuring about 15 to 25 millimeters (0.6 to 1 inch) long and 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) thick.
Flowers and Seeds
The tree's flowers are small and appear in structures called catkins. They show up in spring, shortly after the new leaves start to grow.
After the flowers, the tree produces seeds. These seeds are small, triangular nuts. They are about 15 to 20 millimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches) long and 7 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide at the base. Each little cup-like structure, called a cupule, usually holds two nuts. These nuts ripen in the autumn, about 6 to 7 months after the flowers were pollinated.
See also
In Spanish: Haya mexicana para niños
