A tree of the genus Fagus.

smooth gray bark and small edible nuts

A very tough and elastic timber used for oars, blocks and pulleys, spokes of wheels and milk-pails. However, it is not very flexible and is difficult to work. Ash bark is used tanning and the ashes of ash is used for potash. See also: Timber. Search for timber books on Amazon.co.uk

(Fagus sylvatica) Light brown. Turns and finishes well.

Fagus Maple Acer

Beech (Fagus sylvatica, Fagaceae) A common tree native to much of Britain and widely planted elsewhere, the leaves of this tree are a useful wild food in late spring, harvest once they have emerged from the bud but before they take on a papery texture in summer. One of the finest wild food liquers (beech leaf noyeaux) can be made from the leaves. The nuts (beech mast) can be roasted as a coffee alternative, used as an animal feed or de-hulled for extraction of the clear edible oil which can be used for burning in lamps or as a furniture polish.

Fagus grandifolia