Fagus

Trees, winter-deciduous. Terminal buds present, long, tapered in maturity, all scales imbricate. Leaves: stipules prominent on new growth, soon deciduous. Leaf blade thin, secondary veins unbranched, ± parallel, extending to margin, each vein ending in acute or obscure tooth. Inflorescences unisexual, axillary in new growth leaves; staminate inflorescence lax, loosely capitate cluster of flowers; pistillate inflorescence short, stiff, cupule 1, terminal. Staminate flowers: sepals connate; stamens 6-16; pistillode typically absent. Pistillate flowers 2 per cupule; sepals distinct; carpels and styles 3. Fruits: maturation in 1st year following pollination; cupule 4-valved, valves distinct, ±completely enclosing nuts until maturity, prickly, prickles stout, unbranched, short, not obscuring surface of cupule, internal valves absent; nuts 2 per cupule, sharply 3-angled, slightly winged. x = 12.

Distribution

Temperate, subtropical, and montane tropical forests, North America (e United States), Mexico, Europe, Asia.

Discussion

Species 8-10 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

Cooper, A. W. and E. P. Mercer. 1977. Morphological variation in Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. in North Carolina. J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 93: 136-149.

Hardin, J. W. and G. P. Johnson. 1985. Atlas of foliar surface features in woody plants, VIII. Fagus and Castanea (Fagaceae) of eastern North America. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 112: 11-20.

Rehder, A. J. 1907. Some new or little known forms of New England trees. Rhodora 9: 109-116.

Lower Taxa

Fagus grandifolia