Fagus crenata, known as Siebold's beech, or Japanese beech, is a species of deciduous tree in the family Fagaceae.
Distribution and habitat
It is
endemic to Japan, where it is widespread and often one of the dominant trees of Japan's deciduous forests.
It is found from the
Oshima Peninsula in Hokkaidō south to the Ōsumi Peninsula in Kyūshū. In north-east Honshū it grows in large stands from sea level up to but in the south-west of its range it is restricted to mountainous areas and occurs in small, isolated populations. It grows in well-drained,
or sandy soils.
Description
It reaches in height. The crown is rounded and the bark is smooth and grey. The simple leaves are arranged alternately along the branch. They are broadest towards the base and have 7 to 11 pairs of veins. The nut has a short thick stalk, long. There are flattened green whiskers at the base of the husk of the nut. The flowers are
Anemophily. The young leaves and seeds are edible.
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Evans, Erv (2000-2003) Fagus crenata, NC State University. Accessed 26/06/07.
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Johnson, Owen & More, David (2006) Collins Tree Guide, HarperCollins, London
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Plants for a Future (2004) [2]. Accessed 13/07/14.
