Biological Name: Fagus sylvatica
Origins / Native Range: Europe, especially temperate forests.
Interesting Facts:
• Known for its smooth, grey bark and dense canopy.
• Beech nuts (“mast”) were once an important food source for livestock and wildlife.
• Timber is versatile, used for furniture, flooring, and tools.
• Can live for several hundred years; ancient beech forests are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Conservation Status: Not threatened, though sensitive to drought.