This oriental beech can be found on the Fairway, where it is displaying its bristled fruits.
Containing 10 species the genus Fagus (beech) occurs throughout the northern hemisphere. All species are deciduous and have smooth, grey trunks, and alternate leaves with parallel veins. Similar in appearance, and closely allied to the native common beech, Fagus sylvatica, F. orientalis has larger leaves, silky leaf stalks, and silky hairs on the veins and midrib on the underside of the leaves. Male and female flowers are borne together on trees. These develop to produce bristled cupules, or husks, which have four segments, and open when ripe to reveal a silky inner surface and usually two glossy fruits. F. orientalis is a native of mixed woodlands up to 2,200 m altitude in south-eastern Europe, Turkey and the Caucasus, and can grow to 20 m in height. Having heavy, hard and strong wood, the timber is used for fuel, but also for the production of furniture, veneer and pulpwood.
cupules