Beech

Beech
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fagales Family: Fagaceae Genus: Fagus
Species
Fagus crenata - Japanese white beech    Fagus engleriana - Chinese beech    Fagus grandifolia - American beech    Fagus japonica - Japanese black beech    Fagus mexicana - Mexican beech or haya    Fagus orientalis - oriental beech    Fagus sieboldii - beech    Fagus sylvatica - European beech

Beeches are trees of the Genus Fagus, including about ten species in Europe, Asia, and North America. The leaves are entire and sparsely-toothed. The fruit is a small, sharply-angled nut, borne in pairs in spiny husks. The beech most commonly grown as an ornamental or shade tree is the European beech, Fagus sylvatica.

The southern beeches belong to a different but closely related genus, Nothofagus. They are found in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, New Caledonia and South America.