Also called North American beech.
Native to 🇨🇦 Canada and 🇺🇸 USA Midwest, East and South.
Uses by native peoples
(Ethnobotany database)
Genus used as host by caterpillars of 120 species
of 🦋 butterflies and moths, in some areas.
Leaves may be bronze-color in autumn. Found in climax forests, with birch and maple. Famous for people carving their initials in this "initial tree". Beech nuts are high in protein and fat, and are important food for 🐦︎ birds, 🦌︎ deer, bear, fox, squirrel, chipmunk, mice and feral hogs. Beech leaves and twigs provide food for
🦌︎ white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus
late in the season, when there is very little else available.