European Beech
European Beech
Fagus sylvatica
Plantae
COMMON

Stats

Lifespan
Up to 300 yrs
Size
Huge
Diet
Photosynthetic
Biome
Temperate forest
Range
Europe
Movement
Sessile
Breeding
Seeds
Defense
Armor
Status
Common

About

The European beech is a towering deciduous tree native to central and western Europe, capable of living 300–500 years and reaching 40 metres tall. Its smooth, silvery-grey bark and copper-bronze autumn canopy make it one of the most recognisable trees of the continent's temperate forests.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    seed
    A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
  2. 2.
    sprout
    A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
  3. 3.
    sapling
    A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
  4. 4.
    mature
    Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Family
Fagaceae
Genus
Fagus
Species
Fagus sylvatica