Common Name:

General Information

Fagus sinensis is a deciduous tree with a large dense crown; it can grow up to 25 metres tall[].
The tree is harvested from the wild as a food and source of materials.
The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The seeds of the various species of beech are generaly edible and wholesome. However, they do contain a saponic glycoside and, if eaten in quantity (especially if eaten raw), they can cause stomach upsets[].

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - southern and central China, northern Vietnam.

Habitat

Broad-leaved evergreen and mixed mesophytic forests on mountain slopes, occasionally in pure stands but usually with oak, maple and other deciduous trees; at elevations from 300 - 2,400 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	22.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Fagus sinensis is a very cold-hardy tree, tolerating temperatures down to around -30°c when dormant. It grows best in areas with hot summers. In areas with cooler summers (even if the winters are mild), such as the maritime regions of the temperate zone, it often grows poorly, failing to properly ripen its wood and suffering frost damage over the winter[, ].
Grows best in a sunny position, though young trees are also very shade tolerant, surviving in deep woodland shade for several years and then able to grow fairly rapidly if an opening occurs. Thrives on a light or medium soil[], doing well on chalk[], but ill-adapted for heavy wet soils[]. The new growth in spring, especially on young plants, is very subject to frost damage - growing small plants in the dappled shade of a woodland is usually sufficient to protect them[].
A slow-growing tree[].
Large yields of seed are not obtainable annually but rather in 5 - 10 -year cycles[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw. A very nice mild flavour, but the leaves quickly become tough so only the youngest should be used. New growth is usually produced for 2 periods of 3 weeks each year, one in spring and one in mid-summer.

Edible seed - raw or cooked[, ]. Rich in oil. The seed should not be eaten raw in large quantities. It can be dried and ground into a powder and then used with cereal flours in making bread, cakes etc.

An edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed[, ]. Beech nuts contain a considerable amount of valuable oil which is extracted by pressing. Apart from its applications for food, this oil is used as adulterant for walnut, poppy, or olive oil[].

The roasted seed is a coffee substitute.

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Beech trees generally have surface-feeding roots and also cast a dense shade - this greatly inhibits the growth of other plants and, especially where a number of the trees are growing together, the ground beneath them is often almost devoid of vegetation[, ].

Other Uses

A semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed by pressing. It can be used as a fuel for lighting, as a lubricant, for polishing wood etc[, , , , , ].

The wood has a very high caloric value. On dry distillation it yields alcohol and creosote[].

We have no specific information for this species, but beech wood is generally attractive and of good quality, being straight-grained with a fine and even texture. It is strong, hard and heavy, but is not very durable without treatment and tends to be attacked by beetles. It is normally an excellent wood for steam bending and turnery and is used for a variety of woodwork, including cabinet work, furniture making, oars, shoe lasts, small articles for domestic use, spoons, trays, etc[].
The wood is an excellent fuel, burning well and giving off a lot of heat.

Propagation

Seed - the seed has a short viability and is best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Protect the seed from mice. Germination takes place in the spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. The seedlings are slow growing for the first few years and are very susceptible to damage by late frosts.
The seed can also be sown in an outdoor seedbed in the autumn. The seedlings can be left in the open ground for three years before transplanting, but do best if put into their final positions as soon as possible and given some protection from spring frosts.