File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11 (1901) (19879908764).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11pennx (find matches)
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forestry
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department : WM. Stanley Ray, state printer of Pennsylvania
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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131
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PLATE LII. BEECH 1. Branrli with staminatt- and pistillate tl..\v( rs smd iininature loaves, x i. 2. A staininate flower, enlaiKed. 'A. A pistillate flower, enlarged. 4. A branch with mature leaves and tliree Irnits, x *. .'.. A srcd, natural size. ⢠. , , .i ,. i (5 V winter braueh with lony, slmdrr and shari«-i><.int('d l.uds, x sliyhtl) 7. Tcrniinal scetiMii v( a winter l.nnicli willi juni,', sl<'M<hr \\ llll> 11II â¢â â â¢â¢f,, - â iiinnv itvei'lai)i>inu scalt-s, sliyiitly cnlai'tfcd. . ^ â . , . ,....âi i -..-hi. "'""â ' "'»'""I I !â¢__ , -^ , , ..:.,. , .i,â,,i..,. â;,(f sliarp ;><iint»'d hml cnvered with BEECH Fagus grandifolia, Ehrhart FORMr-Large tree usually attaining a lielght of 50-60 ft. with a diameter of 2-3 ft. but may reach a height of 125 ft. with a diameter of 4J feet. Forest grown trees are tall, slender, free from lateral branches for a considerable distance from the base, with a rather compact shallow crown. Open grown trees are short-trunked, covered with many lateral branches which are often drooping below ond erect above, forming a dense, deep symanetrical cr»wn. BARKâVery close, smooth, light gray, mottled with dark spots. It invites the cutting of Initials and other outline carvings. See Fig. 113. TWIGSâSlender, dark yellow to gray, at first hairy, later smooth, zigzag, covered with yellowish lenticels, and marked by bud-scale scars. BUDSâAlternate; terminal bud present; five times as long as wide, slender, sharp-pointed, conical, usually smooth, covered by 10-20 reddish-brov^n bud-scales with hairy margins. LEAVESâAlternate, simple, ovate, 3-4 inches long, stiff leathery, with tapering apex and sharp-tooth margin; light green above, yelloAvish-green below. LEAF-SCARS^Raised, crescent-shaped to elliptical with a few scattered bundle-scars. Stipule- scars narrow, almost encircling twig; one end of each stipule-scar is raised above the other end. FLOWERSâ^Appear about April when leaves are one-third developed. Staminate flowers occur in a stalked round head about one inch in diameter; pistillate flowers occur in 2-flowered clusters from the axil of the upper leaves. FRUITâA stalked, prickly, 4-valved bur containing triangular pale brown, shining nuts with sweet edible kernel. WOODâDiffuse-porous with minute pores; broad medullary rays present with narrow ones lnter\'ening; hard, strong, tough, not durable, difficult to season, light red in color. Weighs 43 lbs. per cubic foot. Used for railroa;d ties, parquet flooring, novelty wares, carpenter tools, fuel, and charcoal. DISTINGVISHINa CHARACTERISTICSâThe American Beech can readily be distinguished by its close, smooth, light gray bark, its simple, leathery, often persistent leaves, its prickly and stalked fruit with triangular seeds, and its long slender, conical, sharp-pointed reddish- brovm bt^ds. RANGEâNova Scotia to Ontario and Wisconsin, south to Florida and Texas. DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIAâFound in every part of the State, but most abundant ill the northern part. Heavy stands occur in the northern tier counties. Local in the southeast- em and southwestern parts. Rare in the South Mountains of Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, and York counties. Generally absent in the valleys of the southern part of the State. HABITATâConunonly found on rich moist bottom lands, but is also abundant on gravelly slopes and rich uplands. It endures dense shade and variation of temperature. Rare in the lime- stone valleys. IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIESâTlie Beech was formerly not of very much commercial importance, but it is now becoming more important since the process of timber impregnation has been developed. It furnishes excellent fuel and in some regions it is now converted Into railroad ties and also manufactured into various by-products on a rather extensive scale. It cannot, however, be recommended for extensive planting for forestry purposes but should be retained and developed in the farmer's woodlot where the production of fuel is Important. In the future when more intensive systems for forest management have been developed it can be used for underplanting and as a soil conscrver. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

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