Beeches and Allies

What are they?

The beech family (Fagaceae) consists of a number of often economically or culturally important tree species. The family includes oaks, beeches and chestnuts which are some of the primary species in British woodlands. These are wind-pollinated trees with male and female flowers carried in separate clusters on the same tree, typically with the male clusters in elongate, catkin-like structures and the female flowers solitary or in small clusters near the base of the male flowers (or a little further back on the twig). After fertilisation, the female flowers develop nut-like fruits which can be a useful part of their identification to species. This page also includes the rather similar southern beeches (Nothofagus), which until recently were considered to be members of the Fagaceae but which are now placed in their own family, the Nothofagaceae, while European Hornbeam (in the Betulaceae) is included as it is often confused with European Beech.

Note that the oaks form a rather distinctive group and are therefore covered on their own page, which you can reach by clicking here. It is also worth checking the zelkovas, which are related to elms but could be confused with European Hornbeam or the southern beeches.

Where are they found?

Many of these species are widespread in the countryside, as native woodland trees or where also planted in hedgerows, amenity areas and as crops for their commercial uses. Non-native species are planted for a variety of purposes, most often as amenity, street or park trees, or occasionally for commercial uses on large estates.

Identification

A number of these trees can appear rather similar but are relatively straightforward to identify by checking flower or fruit details (in season) and by carefully checking the leaf shape and leaf margins. The number of leaf veins can be useful to check in the southern beeches.

European Beech Fagus sylvatica

Widespread and common throughout the region. Native in the UK but doubtfully so in East Anglia, except perhaps on chalky sections of the Holt-Cromer ridge. Largest trees generally occur on old estates. Flowers April to May. Leaves with silky white hairs at first, which soon drop, leaving a glossy, smooth surface with untoothed but wavy margins. Male and female flowers rather small and relatively similar to each other. Fruits consist of four, three-sided nutlets contained within a hard case with bristly outer surfaces. Winter buds distinctly very long and pointed; bark smooth.


Habit	Leaf	Leaf	Male flowers (left) and Female flowers (right)

Fruits	Fruits	Winter twig	Bark

European Hornbeam Carpinus betulus

Widespread and common as a native on the boulder clay soils and widely planted as a tree and for hedging elsewhere. A tightly-branched form ('Fastigiata') is often planted as a street tree in urban areas. Flowers April to May. Leaves similar in shape to those of beech species, but readily identified by the strongly currugated appearance (especially when first opening) and the saw-toothed margins. Male flowers in short, yellowish catkins. Female flowers hidden amongst long bracts, with just the white stigmas protruding. Fruits consist of small nutlets, surrounded by large, leafy bracts. Bark smooth, with mid-aged branches often having undulating ridges that resemble the contours of muscular arms.


Leaves	Male flowers	Male flowers	Female flowers

Fruits	Winter twig	Winter bud	Bark

Sweet Chestnut Castanea sativa

Introduced from southern Europe for its edible fruits and versatile wood. Widely planted throughout the region, often forming massive trunks in parkland on larger estates. Flowers July. Leaves smooth, up to 26cm long and with bristle tips to the veins along the leaf margins. Male flowers carried in great abudance on long, stiff, radiating spikes. Female flowers in small clusters at the base of the male spikes. Fruits consist of one to three nutlets contained within a soft case with densely spiny outer surfaces. Winter buds rounded on strongly ridged shoots. With age, the bark becomes deeply fissured and develops a spiral direction on the trunk.


Habit	Leaves	Leaf margin	Male flowers

Fruits	Fruits	Winter twig	Bark

Roble Nothofagus obliqua

Introduced from southern South America and occasionally planted as a forestry tree for its timber, or in shelter belts. Flowers April to May. Leaves 4-8cm in length, with 7-18 pairs of veins, irregularly toothed and lobed and with unequal sides at the base. Male flowers stalked, solitary in the leaf axils; female flowers more or less unstalked. The four-lobed fruit capsules are similar to those of European Beech, but much smaller and with only three nutlets. Bark smooth and grey at first, with horizontal lines, developing craggy plates with age.


Habit	Leaves	Leaf	Male flowers

Fruits	Winter twig	Bark	Bark

Rauli Nothofagus alpina

Introduced from southern South America and occasionally planted as a forestry tree for its timber, or in shelter belts. Flowers April to May. Leaves 4-8cm in length, with 15-18 pairs of veins, more regularly toothed and lobed than the leaves of Roble and with equal sides at the base. Male flowers stalked, solitary in the leaf axils; female flowers more or less unstalked. The four-lobed fruit capsules are similar to those of European Beech, but much smaller and with only three nutlets. Bark smooth and grey at first, developing vertical fissures with age.


Leaves	Leaf	Winter twig	Bark

Antarctic Beech Nothofagus antarctica

Introduced from southern South America and occasionally planted as an amenity tree in parks or cemeteries. Flowers April to May. A deciduous tree to 20m in height. Leaves 2-4.5cm in length, with 3-5 pairs of veins, typically smaller and more wavy-edged than those of the other southern beeches described here. On young trees especially, the branchlets can have a herringbone appearance to them.


Leaves and branching	Leaves	Leaves	Male flower

Female flowers	Fruits	Winter twig	Bark

Flora of East Anglia An Identification Guide