common beech or European Beech
Fagus sylvatica 'Tortuosa'
Beech family (Fagaceae)
The western giant of mature, dark woods
If people ceased mowing, pruning and felling much of Europe would be covered in forest: dense, dark forests with tall trees and a closed canopy and the common beech would be one of the most important components.
These trees can reach up to 46 m high, have thick straight trunks with silvery bark that support a dense crown of small green, serrated leaves. In the autumn the tree sheds its leaves yet in the spring and summer there are so many leaves that not enough sunlight is able to penetrate and allow other plants to grow on the ground beneath them. Occasionally a beech will fall and in the clearing around the tree there is a risk of plants becoming sunburnt by the sudden increase in light intensity.
There is only one common beech species, all the other beeches - the copper beech, weeping beech, fern-leaved beech, Dawyck beech and twisted beech - are descended from just a few individuals, all variants of the common beech.
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Crown jewel in the Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum.
Wood is ideal for chairs as it bends without breaking, has a fine grain and is relatively free of knots and thus especially suitable for furniture making. Small shoots are a source of fuelwood.
Details
Description: | Tree, 4 - 6 m with a twisted trunk and twisted branches. |
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Distributions: | Only found in cultivation. |
Habitat: | In not too damp, humus rich soils with good drainage, in partial shade to full sun. |
Year cycle: | Perennial (polycarpic decidous) |
Hardiness: | Colder than -4 f (very hardy) |
Flowering period: | April - mei |
Flower color: | Yellow |
Notes on flowers: | Insignificant yellow flowers. |
Fruiting period: | September |
At its best: | September - oktober |