Fagus sylvatica ''Riversii'

Remarkable Parisian tree: Beech "riversii" (Fagus sylvatica ''Riversii''), Montsouris park, Circumference: 407 cm, Height: 18 m.
Installed at the edge of the main lawn, this tree with its cylindrical trunk is a remarkable tree of the park, a label awarded to individuals that stand out for their singularity. Covered with a smooth light grey bark on a trunk that bears a rounded top. Its characteristic glossy leaves are mostly dark purple, turning coppery in autumn. The leaves are oval with a wavy edge, smooth on top and covered with small hairs on the underside. The foliage of the beech is marcescent: it remains on the wood in winter and falls off just before the new leaves appear. Yellow and green flowers appear between April and May and produce 12-18 mm long shiny brown fruits called "faines". Its roots are very shallow, which sometimes causes beeches to fall over when the wind blows too hard. They live in symbiosis with fungi that provide the tree with nutrients and carbohydrates necessary for its survival. The 'Riversii' beech is a somewhat fragile tree that thrives in meadows: it needs moisture but is afraid of soils that are too wet. It is sensitive to extreme temperatures, both positive and negative. It also takes longer to grow than the common beech and grows less tall.
The leaves of the beech are very similar to those of the hornbeam, and there is a mnemonic to help you tell them apart: "Adam's charm is to be naked" (the hornbeam has teeth, the beech has hair). You can recognise this beech tree by the characteristic colour of its foliage which distinguishes it from other beech species.