American beech

American beech Fagus grandifolia

Description

A deciduous Beech tree, Fagus grandifolia, native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia to Texas. Beechwood is a pale reddish-brown timber from the beech trees is a hard, tough, fine-grain wood. It is used for furniture, flooring, Plywood, Veneer, cooperage, shoe lasts, and tool handles.

Synonyms and Related Terms

beechwood; Fagus grandifolia;

Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

Physical and Chemical Properties

Wood is acidic. Color: Pinkish brown with dark brown rays. Rings: obscure. Pores: diffuse, fine. Grain: faint. Rays: distinct. Hard, strong and heavy. Specific gravity = 0.74. Density = 46 ppcf.

Large trees growing to 35 m. Bark=smooth, gray. Leaves=simple with veins and toothed edges. Fruit=Large husk containing 2 shiny brown edible nuts.

Additional Images

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  Beech (Fagus americana)
  radial section

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  Beech (Fagus americana)
  tangential section

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  Beech (Fagus americana)
  transverse section

Resources and Citations

• Alden Identification Services, Microscopic Wood Identification: Link

• Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996

• Virginia Tech Dendrology website at www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/main.htm (accessed Oct. 8, 2005)

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Beech (Accessed Oct. 8, 2005)

• Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

• Gordon Hanlon, contributed information, 1998