Practical
Plants

Fagus grandifolia

American Beech

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Fagus genus in the family Fagaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Fagaceae
Genus
Fagus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
10 m
Spread
10 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Large quantities of the raw seed may be toxic[4].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb[7]. A very nice mild flavour but the leaves quickly become tough so only the youngest should be used. New growth is usually produced for 2 periods of 3 weeks each year, one in spring and one in mid-summer. Seed - raw or cooked. Small but very sweet and nutritious[16][3][5][7][12], it is sold in local markets in Canada and some parts of America[16]. Rich in oil, the seed also contains up to 22% protein[9]. The raw seed should not be eaten in large quantities since it is believed to cause enteritis[4][11]. It can be dried and ground into a powder, then used with cereal flours in making bread, cakes etc[7]. The germinating seeds can be eaten raw, they are tender, crisp, sweet and nutty[7]. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[7][9]. An edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed[6][7]. Inner bark[6]. Dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread[9].

Product or use
Coffee
Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Inner bark
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A decoction of the boiled leaves has been used as a wash and poultice to treat frostbite, burns, poison ivy rash etc[9][10][13]. The nuts have been eaten as a vermifuge[10][13]. A tea made from the bark has been used in the treatment of lung ailments[10][13]. It has also been used to procure an abortion when the mother was suffering[13].

Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The oil obtained from the seed has been used as a fuel in oil lamps[11]. Wood - strong, hard, heavy, very close grained, not durable, difficult to cure[15][16][12]. It weighs 43lb per cubic foot[12]. Harvested commercially, it is used for furniture, flooring, tool handles, crates etc[12]. It makes an excellent charcoal and is used in artwork[15][12].

Product or use
Charcoal
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - New Brunswick to Florida, west to Texas and Ontario.
Habitat
Rich uplands and mountain slopes, often forming nearly pure forests[16]. In the south of its range it is also found on the margins of streams and swamps[14][16].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - the seed has a short viability and is best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Protect the seed from mice. Germination takes place in the spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. The seedlings are slow growing for the first few years and are very susceptible to damage by late frosts. The seed can also be sown in an outdoor seedbed in the autumn. The seedlings can be left in the open ground for three years before transplanting, but do best if put into their final positions as soon as possible and given some protection from spring frosts.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Thrives on a light or medium soil[2], doing well on chalk[1], but ill-adapted for heavy wet soils[1]. Young trees are very shade tolerant, but are subject to frost damage so are best grown in a woodland position which will protect them[8]. Although very cold hardy, this species requires hotter summers than are normally experienced in Britain so is not usually a success here and is very slow growing[8]. The seeds are dispersed after the first frosts[12], they are sometimes gathered and sold in local markets in N. America[16][12]. Good crops are produced every 2 - 3 years in the wild[12]. This species produces suckers[2] and often forms thickets in the wild[12]. Trees have surface-feeding roots and also cast a dense shade, this greatly inhibits the growth of other plants and, especially where a number of the trees are growing together, the ground beneath them is often almost devoid of vegetation[11][12].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. 1984-00-00 ISBN 0802707699

    ↩

  4. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩1↩2

  5. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  6. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  9. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  13. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  15. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  16. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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