Fagus orientalis, commonly known as the Oriental beech, is a deciduous tree in the beech family Fagaceae. It is native to Eurasia, in Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
| Fagus orientalis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Oriental beech[1] | |
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| foliage, fruits and trunk. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fagales |
| Family: | Fagaceae |
| Genus: | Fagus |
| Species: | F. orientalis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Fagus orientalis | |
| |
Description
edit
Fagus orientalis is a large tree, capable of reaching heights of up to 45 m (148 ft) tall and 3 m (9.8 ft) trunk diameter, though more typically 25–35 m (82–115 ft) tall and up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) trunk diameter.
The leaves are alternate, simple, and entire or with a slightly crenate margin, 7–15 cm (2.8–5.9 in) long and 5–9 cm (2.0–3.5 in) broad, with 7–13 veins on each side of the leaf (6–7 veins in F. sylvatica). The buds are long and slender, 15–30 millimetres (0.59–1.18 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) thick, but thicker, till 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in), where the buds include flower buds.
The flowers are small catkins which appear shortly after the leaves in spring.
The seeds are small triangular nuts 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) long and 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) wide at the base; there are two nuts in each cupule, maturing in the autumn 5–6 months after pollination. The cupule differs from that of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) in having flattened, slightly leaf-like appendages at the base (which are slender, soft spines in European beech).
Taxonomy
editFagus orientalis is closely related to Fagus sylvatica (the European beech), and hybridises with it in the Balkans and northwestern Turkey. These hybrids with European Beech are named Fagus × taurica Popl. [Fagus moesiaca (Domin, Maly) Czecz.].
Distribution and habitat
editThe tree's natural range extends from southeastern Bulgaria's Strandja mountain range and Greece through northwest Turkey, and east to the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia and Russia, as well as the Alborz Mountains in Iran.
Use
editThe wood of Fagus orientalis is heavy, hard, strong and highly resistant to shock. These features makes it suitable for steam bending. The wood is also a source to fuelwood and can be used for constructions particleboard, furniture, flooring veneer, mining poles, railway tiles and paper.[3]
See also
edit- Caucasus mixed forests ecoregion — key species in the ecoregion
References
edit- ^ Cirrus Digital Oriental Beech – Fagus orientalis
- ^ Rivers, M.C.; Barstow, M. (2017). "Fagus orientalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T79914188A109616835. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T79914188A109616835.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ Kandemirm, G.; Kaya, Z. (2009). "Oriental beech - Fagus orientalis: Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use" (PDF). EUFORGEN: European Forest Genetic Resources Programme. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016.
External links
edit- Oriental beech on Floridata
- Fagus orientalis, Plants for a Future
- Fagus orientalis - distribution map, genetic conservation units and related resources. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN)
