Fagus sylvatica

Overview

Kew accepts Fagus sylvatica in Fagaceae with a native range in Europe that explicitly includes Greece. Kew lists Ireland as an introduced, not native, territory. This profile follows Kew's accepted species concept and does not treat every regional beech as a synonym.

Trees usually have a single trunk with smooth silvery-grey bark. The oval leaves have wavy edges and short teeth where the parallel veins end. Male and female flowers grow on the same tree, and triangular nuts form inside soft-spined husks.

Seed output varies sharply between mast years. Squirrels, jays and other animals eat and cache the nuts, which aids dispersal. The species tolerates winter cold but is vulnerable to spring frost.

Origins & earliest records

Kew records first publication in Species Plantarum (1753), page 998. This is naming history, not the species' evolutionary beginning.

Evidence & interpretation

Kew naming and distribution; European Atlas morphology and ecology.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Species Plantarum

   Linnaeus · 1753

   Selected bibliography; place of first publication as recorded by Kew (p. 998).

2. 02

   Fagus sylvatica in Europe: distribution, habitat, usage and threats

   · n.d.

   Selected bibliography; European Atlas of Forest Tree Species species account.

Family, evolution & connections

Taxonomic classification

A hierarchy of classified groups, not a chain of direct ancestors.

Source note: Follows Kew's current accepted concept; regional western Eurasian beeches are not assumed to be synonyms.

1. FamilyFagaceae
2. SpeciesFagus sylvatica L.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Taxonomic databaseFagus sylvatica L. | Plants of the World OnlineResearch access: 2026-10-07
2. Reference atlasFagus sylvatica in Europe: distribution, habitat, usage and threatsResearch access: 2026-10-07

Image credits

A black silhouette of a beech twig bearing four broad oval pointed leaves.

Attributed silhouette labelled Fagus sylvatica in the individual source record; retained whole raster shows an outline, without colour, exact locality or diagnostic detail.