Origin
The beech tree is a familiar sight especially in mountainous landscapes.
In the cool, wet interglacial periods (130,000 - 115,000 years ago), beech forests descended to sea level, where they are documented by fossil leaf impressions in sediments.
Name Origin
The generic (Fagus sylvatica L.) name was given by Linnaeus who chose to keep the one used by Romans to indicate the beech tree, fagus.
The specific name selva comes from the Latin sylva and instead alludes to the woody habitat.
Quercus cerris L. (2021-06-16) by Marta LatiniMuseo Erbario Sapienza
How to recognize? Shape of the tree
It is a large deciduous tree, up to 40 m tall with a massive, expanded, densely branched crown and silvery-grey, thin, and smooth bark
How to recognize? Leaves
The leaves, 5-10 cm long and 3-7 cm wide, alternate, with glossy ovate-elliptic lamina, dark green on the upper page, paler on the lower one.
The edge is entirely indented and slightly wavy, ending in an acute or obtuse apex and characteristically hairy at the beginning of the leafing. The veins are pinnate.
Fagus sylvatica L. (2021-06-16) by Giovanna AbbateMuseo Erbario Sapienza
How to recognize? The flowers
Male flowers (6-16) are grouped in rounded inflorescences (glomerules) and pendulous.
The female inflorescences are erect and composed of 2 flowers surrounded by an involucre (dome) with 4 bracts (leaves with protective function for flowers) with herbaceous spiniform scales.
Fagus sylvatica L. (1981-05-30) by Anzalone B.Museo Erbario Sapienza
How to recognize? The fruits
The fruits, called beechnuts, are three-edged brown nuts, enclosed in groups of two in the ovoid dome, lignified and pinescent. Reaching maturity in September - October, the fruit opens into 3-4 valves. In each fruit there is a single seed.
Fagus sylvatica L. (1982-05-01) by Anzalone B.Museo Erbario Sapienza
Where to find a beech tree
It is very common in the Latium region of Italy, between 800 m - 1800 m above sea level. In cases where environmental conditions are optimal for its development, it has thrived at lower altitudes, reflecting previous distributions (depressed beech forests, below 500m).
Beech specimen among the largest in Europe, Val Fondillo, Opi, Italy
It prefers a temperate-humid climate with not too rigid winters and fresh summers. A good degree of atmospheric humidity is necessary for its survival.
It grows on acid and basic soils, deep, rich in nutrients, fresh and drained. It fears periods of aridity and late frosts, and does not tolerate stagnant water and clay soils.
Often it is found in beech forests, with dense leaf cover that reduces ground brightness.
Fagus sylvatica L. (1980-07-18) by Anzalone B.Museo Erbario Sapienza
Uses
Wood is resistant, compact and easy to work. It is often used for carpentry work.
Seeds are edible and rich in oil. In the past they were used for both human and animal feed and for illumination.
Fagus sylvatica L. (1980-07-18) by Anzalone B.Museo Erbario Sapienza
Prized varieties
Some varieties are prized for their aesthetic characteristics and used for ornamental purposes in parks and gardens.
The purple beech tree has very colourful foliage in shades of red-purple.
The pendulous variety has curved branches stretching down to the ground.
Tìtyre, tù patulaè
recubàns sub tègmine fàgi
silvestrèm
tenuì musàm
meditàris avèna;
nòs patriaè finès
et dùlcia lìnquimus àrva;
nòs patriàm fugimùs:
tu, Tìtyre, lèntus in ùmbra
fòrmosàm resonàre docès
Amarỳllida sìlvas.
Virgilio, Bucoliche, Ecloga I, vv. 1-5
The Sapienza Herbarium Museum holds over one million specimens and each one tells an incredible story.
Texts and images by the staff of the Herbarium Museum, Sapienza University of Rome
Layout by Caterina Giovinazzo and Ilaria De Benedictis
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