Oriental beech
Fagus orientalis

Family: Fagaceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It can grow to 20-30 m high. It can spread to 15 m across. The bark is grey and smooth but sometimes with furrows. The leaves are longer than Fagus sylvatica. They are narrowly oval and 12 cm long by 6 cm wide. They have about 8-12 pairs of veins. They are dark green and smooth above and with silky hairs on the veins underneath. They turn brown in autumn. The male and female flowers occur in separate clusters on the same plant. Male are yellow and female are green. The fruit is a bristly husk 2.5 cm long. It splits open into 4 lobes. It encloses 1-3 seeds. They are small and edible.

There are 10 Fagus species.

Where it is found

It is native to S.W. Asia and S.E. Europe. Temperate. It needs a warm climate. It suits hardiness zones 6-9. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Armenia, Asia, Azerbaijan, Australia, Caucasus, Europe, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Mediterranean, Middle East, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The seeds are fried and eaten as a snack.

Edible parts

Coffee, leaves, oil, seeds, nuts

How it is grown

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Chinariki, Hatchareni, Kayin, Ts'ipeli

Synonyms

Fagus sylvatica subsp. orientalis (Lipsky) Greuter & Burdet;