December 20, 2004
American Beech, Fagus sylvatica
Beech trees are easy to recognize in any season because of
their smooth, grey bark, which some people think looks like
the leg of an elephant. Beeches often occur in groves, a result
of this species' ability to sprout from underground roots. Thus
the many trees in a group are likely to be genetically identical-
in other words, all one tree! This tree is growing along the aptly
named "Beech Path" in back of Neville Place.