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Beech on Frost Street was just cut down in 1998- ten years after a
housing development with underground parking went in next door.
The Houghton Beech is at 1008 Massachusetts Avenue. It was protected
by the City of Cambridge.
For information on the effect of global warming on beeches in New England:
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/conferences/newengland/report/story4.html
The following is from http://hobart.cs.umass.edu/~curtis/beech.html
AMERICAN BEECH (fagus grandifolia) grows tall with a massive trunk.
In the forest the trunk is straight and clear and the crown is small in
proportion; in the open the trunk is stocky and the branches large and
spreading. Its pointed-oval leaves have widely-spaced sharp serrations
and are dark green above and paler beneath. Its fruit is a round spiny
bur about one inch long with three nuts inside, and the bark is very smooth
and bluish-gray . It grows best in cool moist situations in northern hardwood
forests. Native Americans took shelter under beech trees during thunderstorms-
they are almost never struck by lightening. http://hobart.cs.umass.edu/~curtis/beech.html
The following if from: http://www.mystical-www.co.uk/treesb.htm#BEECH
BEECH
It is said that the God and Goddess Apollo and Athena sat in a beech
tree having transformed into vultures. The legend tells of how the two
Gods sat and watched the fight between the Trojans and the Greeks.
The sacred grove of trees of 'Dodona', in Epirus, Ancient Greece, is
the place where a temple was erected to Zeus. The Beech tree was said to
be able to convey the message from Zeus to the worshipper. Revered as the
God of Thunder it is thought that the association with the tempestuous
weather form stems from here as this place was alleged to have more storms
than anywhere else in Europe. The temple was situated by a great Oak tree.
The presence of Zeus at the temple was thought to be signified by the rustling
of the tree. Large bronze gongs were hung in the tree and the sound that
came forth when the wind blew was said to resemble the sound of thunder
rolling across the sky. The message from the oracle was thought to be given
through other trees that were planted here.
Near Tusculum there was a hill called 'Corne' where Pliny tells of
a grove of Beech trees could be found. The grove was sacred to the goddess
Diana, and it is said that all the trees looked as if they had been neatly
manicured, as though 'art had fashioned them'. The orator Crispus was often
said to find peace and rest under the Beech trees, feeding the roots with
wine.
Amongst other light shiny barked trees the beech has always been a
favourite of lovers shown by the many carvings of names or symbols on the
bark.
'As You Like It' : William Shakespeare
'Oh Rosalind! These trees shall be my books,
And in their barks my thoughts I'll character;
That every eye, which in this forest looks,
Shall see thy virtue witness'd every where.
Run, run, Orlando; carve on every tree,
The fair, the chaste, and unexpressive she.'
Diviners in search of water hidden underground are known to often use
forked branches taken from the Beech tree traditionally called 'Wishing
Rods' (also Apple, Hazel and Alder). (See Mystical WWW Trees & Divining
Methodology). (See Mystical WWW Tree Legend 'Herne the Hunter').
The following article is from http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~utia/dev/TreeTrouble.html
Trees in Trouble
UT Scientists Tackle Diseases Harming Beech and Butternut Trees
by Kim Urquhart
A 911 call for help will usually bring the flashing lights and sirens
of emergency vehicles to the scene. You see it played out weekly on television's
Rescue 911 series and other copycat programs.
But when a tree species like the American beech (Fagus grandifolia)
gets into trouble, the situation calls for a rescue that is far less dramatic.
And, in this case, reviving the patient can take years.
To prevent further distress to this valuable hardwood, a team of UT
researchers has been dispatched to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
where they are making a gargantuan effort to save the species from a deadly
insect-induced fungal disease that threatens its future in Tennessee and
neighboring states.
The American beech, known for its smooth gray bark, coarse-toothed
leaves, and edible nuts, is an ecologically and economically important
component of forests in eastern North America. Beech trees in the Smokies
are currently being attacked by tiny parasites known as beech "scale" that
feed on the living bark tissue. The wounds that the insects leave provide
an entry for the fungus, which then girdles the trunk, cutting off the
flow of nutrients to the branches and leaves and eventually killing the
tree.
Beech trees growing at higher elevations are most affected by this
disease. Almost 90 percent of beech trees in one Smoky Mountain test plot
have been killed by the disease, according to Dr. Mark Windham, UT plant
pathologist.
Windham and Dr. Jerome Grant, a UT entomologist, along with graduate
students Greg Wiggins and Rob Klein, have teamed up with researchers in
UT's Tree Improvement Program to develop strategies to combat the prolific
scale and the tenacious fungus. Although insecticides and fungicides may
control beech scale and beech bark disease on trees in your yard, they
are not a viable economic or environmental solution in a forest system.
Graduate students are assisting the scientists to identify control measures
that the park could use while getting a better idea of which environmental
factors can influence the disease.
"By finding ways to combat beech bark disease, we may slow the spread
of the disease and possibly
The following is from http://www.gcrio.org/ocp97/beech.html
Beech trees are currently found throughout much of the eastern United
States (left panel). This distribution is determined largely by the climate.
Changes in climate as a result of the increasing concentrations of carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse gases are expected to change the optimum growing
range for beech trees, thereby changing their distribution. Predictions
of future climate conditions from the climate models of the NOAA Geophysical
Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) and the NASA Goddard Institute for Space
Studies (GISS) have been used to estimate the types of shifts in optimum
growing range that could occur a century hence as a result of changes in
the concentrations of greenhouse gases alone (thus representing an extreme
condition). While this warming will likely be delayed somewhat as a result
of sulfate aerosol injections, the results suggest that the optimum growing
ranges may shift roughly 300 miles to the north, changing the character
of forests. The figure is adapted from M.B. Davis and C. Zabinsky, Changes
in geographical range resulting from greenhouse warming: Effects on biodiversity
in forests. In: Global Warming and Biological Diversity [R.L. Peters and
T.E. Lovejoy (eds.)]. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT (1992).
The following information of beech wood is from http://www.gwv.com/feature_section/wood_facts.html
European Beech
Common Names
European beech
English beech
Carpathian beech
Danish beech
French beech
Romanian beech
Japanese beech
Common Uses
Bobbins
Cabinetmaking
Chairs
Core Stock
Decorative veneer
Desks
Domestic flooring
Flooring
Furniture
Heavy construction
Joinery
Marine construction
Musical instruments
Piling
Plywood
Sporting Goods
Tool handles
Toys
Turnery
Veneer
Workbenches
Species Distribution
REGIONS:
Eastern Europe
Oceania and S.E. Asia
Western Europe
COUNTRIES:
Denmark
France
Germany
Japan
Romania
United Kingdom
Yugo
Physical and Environmental Profile
Environmental Profile
European beech is secure within its natural growth range. It is also reported to be widely planted throughout the British Isles.
Distribution
A native of Western Europe, this species is reported to grow throughout
Europe, approximately between latitudes 40 degrees N and 60 degrees N,
and western Asia. European beech is reported to thrive exceptionally well
on chalky limestone hills, but will also do very well on any
reasonably fertile light soil, with good drainage.
Product Sources
It is currently unknown whether material from the species is available from sustainably managed sources, but the timber is reported to be consumed more than any other hardwood in the United Kingdom. It is considered to be among the best known and most useful commercial timbers in the world, and is always in demand. European beech is reported to be available in long lengths, wide boards, and in the form of veneers, and is in the same price class as the lower cost hardwoods.
Strength properties of the following species in the database are reported
to be similar to those of European beech:
European birch (Betula spp. )
African mahogany (Khaya anthotheca )
Tree Data
Beech trees are sometimes called "Queen of the Woods" because of their large size and stately appearance. On deep limey soils, the trees are >reported to commonly reach 100 feet (30 m), sometimes reaching 150 feet (45 m). Trunk diameters are often 4 feet (1.2 m), but may be greater. Depending upon growth conditions, boles are clear to 30 to 50 feet (9 to 15 m).
Sapwood Color
Sapwood and heartwood are usually difficult to differentiate.
Heartwood Color
Freshly-cut European beech is whitish to very pale brown in color, but
exposure darkens it to pale reddish-brown. Trees grown in the coldest regions
may produce logs with a darker colored core, commonly known as 'red heart',
often with darker streaks. It is a common practice in
south-east Europe to steam beech in the green condition, which changes
the color permanently to pink or light red.
Grain
Grain is typically straight, and broad rays are reported to be conspicuous on longitudinal surfaces. Flat sawn lumber is rather plain in appearance, but quartersawn material is reported to exhibit a distinct attractive silver grain.
Texture
The wood is fairly hard and has a fine and even texture.
Odour
There is no distinct odor or taste.
Ease of Drying
The timber is reported to dry fairly well at a moderate rate, and requires
care in air-seasoning and kiln-drying to prevent excessive shrinkage.
Shrinkage Green to 12% MC
Radial = 4.5%
Tangential = 9.5%
Drying Defects
The wood is reported to have moderate refractory properties and has a tendency to check, split, and distort during drying. Shrinkage can also be very substantial.
Kiln Schedules
Schedule D (4/4) United Kingdom
Movement in Service
The timber is reported to have very poor dimensional stability. It tends to exhibit rather large movement in use, and requires careful and proper seasoning before application.
Natural Durability
European beech is reported to have very little or no natural resistance to attack by decay fungi and other wood destroying insects such as the common furniture beetle. Timber in old structures are reported to be readily attacked by death watch beetle. The sapwood is reported to be vulnerable to attack by the longhorn beetle.
Resistance to Impregnation
The timber is reported to absorb preservatives better than many hardwoods.
Variability in Properties
European beech is widely distributed across Europe and western Asia and is reported to vary considerably in strength and machining properties, according to prevailing conditions and locality of growth.
Veneering Qualities
The timber is sliced into decorative veneers which usually exhibit an attractive flecked figure on quartered surfaces, and broad rays on longitudinal surfaces.
Blunting Effect
Dulling effect on cutting edges is reported to be variable, but is usually moderate.
Cutting Resistance
Resistance to cutting is rated as moderate, but saws may bind during conversion of green material. Burning and tooth vibration may also occur when cross-cutting tougher material. Narrow bandsawing is reported to be satisfactory.
Planing
Planing properties vary, but are reported to be generally satisfactory. A reduced cutting angle of 30 degrees has been recommended in planing.
Turning
European beech is reported to be a very good turnery wood.
Boring
Charring is reported to be common during boring operations.
Gluing
The timber is reported to glue well.
Nailing
The timber is fairly hard and moderately heavy and requires pre-boring.
Polishing
Polishing characteristics are reported to be very good.
Staining
The timber is reported to take stains very well, and can be dyed readily for purposes where colored wood is required.
Response to Hand Tools
Seasoned wood is reported to be rather difficult to work with hand tools.
Steam Bending
European beech is reported to have exceptional steam bending properties, even when knots and irregular grain are present. It can be bent to very small radii, which makes it particularly useful in the furniture industry.
References
Numerical Data Source
Lavers, G.M. 1967. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50 (Supersedes Bulletin No. 45). Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.
Descriptive Data Source
HMSO. 1985. Broadleaves. Forestry Commission Booklet No. 20. Text by
H.E. Edlin. Revised by A.F. Mitchell. Forestry Commission, Her Majesty's
Stationery Office, London.
Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln
Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department
of Agriculture, Forest Service, General Technical Report
FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.
HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1992. Good Wood Handbook - The Wood worker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. HarperCollins Publishers, London
Kribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.
Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California.
Nairn, P.M., Editor. 1936. Wood Specimens - 100 Reproductions in Color - A Series of Selected Timbers Reproduced in Natural Color with Introduction and Annotations by H.A. Cox. The Nema Press, Proprietors of Wood, London.
Patterson, D. 1988. Commercial Timbers of the World. Fifth Edition. Gower Technical Press, Aldershot, UK. ix + 339 pp.
Titmuss, F.H. 1965. Commercial Timbers of the World. Third Edition (Enlarged of "A Concise Encyclopedia of World Timbers"). The Technical Press Ltd., London.
Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London.
British Woodworking Federation. 1995. Which Wood . Published by the
British Woodworking Federation, Broadway House, Tothill Street, London.
Beech trees are currently found throughout much of the eastern United States (left panel). This distribution is determined largely by the climate. Changes in climate as a result of the increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are expected to change the optimum growing range for beech trees, thereby changing their distribution. Predictions of future climate conditions from the climate models of the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) and the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) have been used to estimate the types of shifts in optimum growing range that could occur a century hence as a result of changes in the concentrations of greenhouse gases alone (thus representing an extreme condition). While this warming will likely be delayed somewhat as a result of sulfate aerosol injections, the results suggest that the optimum growing ranges may shift roughly 300 miles to the north, changing the character of forests. The figure is adapted from M.B. Davis and C. Zabinsky, Changes in geographical range resulting from greenhouse warming: Effects on biodiversity in forests. In: Global Warming and Biological Diversity [R.L. Peters and T.E. Lovejoy (eds.)]. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT (1992).
The following is from http://www.queen.demon.co.uk/section1/beech.html
Towers of Beech
Gilbert White, an 18th century naturalist-cleric of Selbourne once said "The beech is the most lovely of all forest trees, whether we consider its smooth bark, its glossy foliage or graceful pendulous boughs..." Beechwoods are inspiring places. In summer, when the tall silver tree trunks stretch high overhead and the canopy of leaves shed a shady calm, the cool wood interior is much like that of a high-arching cathedral.
The beech is one of Britain's 35 native trees, and is confirmed by pollen deposits which have been found in ancient soil samples. 6000 thousand years ago Britain's climat was wetter and the beech was found in mixed forrects, competing for space with trees like the elm and hreat oak. However, it is uncertain as to how the true beechwood appeared and found its own niche.
Today, it is likely that the only natural beechwoods are those in Wales and parts of southern England, those elsewhere were almost certainly planted by man. Beechwoods such os the Forest of Dean and the New forest, would have been planted after the oaks had been cleared.
In the last 300 years beechwoods have been extensively planted due to the tree favoured landscape craze which swept the fashionable society a couple of centuries ago. Many people had their gardens and the land around thier homes remodelled to create attractive views. Clumps of beechwoods were planted on hill sides as eyecatchers.
Many of the beechwoods have existed for many centuries and records show that some of them have grown on what was open sheep pasture. Whether these woodlands were a result of natural colonization on the abandoned grazing land or whether they were planted is uncertain. But the young beech needs shelter when it is growing, and if it is on an exposed site, it needs help from nature or from man.
Natural colonization is certainly possible because amony the tall grasses, small schrubs such as hawthorn or junioer soon grow. Beech seeds can take root in the shelter provided by the schrubs and soon grow to overtop them.
When new beechwoods were planted on open sites, it was common practice to plant quick growing nurse trees among the young beeches. Pine was usually chosen for this job, and although these trees have since been felled, they helped to establish many wooded areas such as the South Downs and the Pennines.
Beech trees do well on chalk slopes. Its shallow but widely spreading roots tap up as much moisture as they need from the dry thin soil, while exploring every cranny in the face of the solid chalk for support.
The limy chalk does not encourage the beech, however, but the sharp drainage, for the tree cannot stand very damp soils. As well as the hillside beechwoods, also known as hangers, found in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, beechwoodds are also found on quick draining snady soils. The famous Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire are on acid snads, and the trees are smaller and not as statuesque as those found on chalk.
On the tops of the hills of the South Downs and the Chilterns, though the bedrock is chalk, the soil is deep. Here many famous beechwoods grow. Beechwoods are also found on the Cotswolds, which are limestone, and in Scotland, where they often grow on sandy soils formed in glacial times.
Beeches and their Uses
Most beech trees were planted for their timber, which is quite strong and finely grained and can be fashioned in any direction. It cannot replace timber- framed buildings out of doors because it rots quickly, it can however survive waterlogging quite well and so was often used for sluice gates of watermills or for bedding of bridges.
Beechwood has a texture which makes it ideal for furniture, and a whole industry became establised on the Chilterns, centered around High Wycombe. Here the bodgers worked the poles in clearings in the wood itself, choosing exactly what they needed at close hand. Any large gaps in these woods would quickly have been closed by new saplings sprouting from seed.
All in all, the tall beechwoods may not be what they seem, and far from being ancient and natural, a good many have been planted quite recently, most are not older than 250 years. However, their future seems secure and the beechwood still ranks among the most beautiful of all Britain's forests.
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