Station 5
Botanical Name: Fagus grandifolia
Common Name: American Beech
Major Deciduous Tree
Native Origin: Eastern North America
Height: 50-80 Can Reach 120
Spread: 40-70 Varies, Depends Upon Site
Form: Broadly Spreading
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruit: Light Brown Beech Nuts, Edible
Bark: Smooth Light Gray
Comments: This grandiose native trees most recognizable characteristic is its smooth gray elephant skin like bark. It is a favorite of many to carve dates, romances and initials in to carry on well into the future. But please, do not do so because cuts into the bark can girdle and kill the tree. The American Beech already has enough problems with disease. Beech bark disease is a common fungal disease at Keystone and its effects can be seen as this walk takes you to the front campus lawn.