Fagus lucida

The Shiny beech ( Fagus lucida ) is a species of the genus of beech (Fagus ) in the beech family ( Fagaceae ). It is native to southern and western China.

Description

The Shining Beech grows as a deciduous tree that can reach heights of growth of up to 25 meters. The winter buds are approximately 1.5 inches tall.

The leaves are arranged opposite one another on the branches. The petiole is 0.6 to 2 inches long. The simple, glossy green colored leaf blade is ovate to elliptic- ovate with a broad wedge -shaped to rounded Spreitenbasis and a pointed tip at a length of 5 to 11 centimeters. It is hairless except for on the underside of leaves silky fluffy hairy main nerve. The main nerve go on each side from eight to twelve side nerves which terminate in a respective small tooth on the blade edge. The leaf margin is bulged and slightly serrated.

The Shining Beech is monoecious - getrenntgeschlechtig ( monoecious ) and is pollinated by the wind ( anemophily ). The flowering period extends from April to May

The 1 to 1.5 centimeters long fruit cup ( cupula ) are at a 0.5 to 1.5 cm long, glabrous stem. The slightly protruding beechnuts have small wings at the top. The beech nuts ripen in September or October.

Occurrence

The natural range of the Shining Beech is located in southern and western China. It includes the provinces of Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan and Zhejiang.

They are found at altitudes from 800 to 2000 meters. It grows in moderately moist hillside forests and often forms pure stands or mixed stands with Engler's beech ( Fagus engleriana ) where she also tolerates full shade. The soil is mostly sandy or loamy and well ventilated.

System

Fagus lucida was in 1916 by Alfred Rehder and Ernest Henry Wilson, Charles Sprague Sargent: firstdescribed Plantae Wilsonianae, 3 ( 2 ), pp. 191-192. A synonym for Fagus lucida Rehder & EHWilson is Fagus nayonica YTChang.

Use

The young leaves can be eaten and have a mild flavor. The oleaginous beechnuts are edible, but should not be consumed in excessive quantities. They can be used both raw and cooked. Dried beech nuts can be ground and baked with flour to make bread. Roasted, they serve as a coffee substitute. From the beechnuts and oil can be extracted.

Swell

• Chengjiu Huang, Yongtian Zhang & Bruce Bartholomew: Fagaceae. Fagus. In: Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan (eds.): Flora of China. Cycadaceae through Fagaceae. Volume 4, Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing and St. Louis in 1999, ISBN 0-915279-70-3, Fagus lucida, p 315 ( this printed work is the same text online, Fagus lucida - Online).