The smooth grey bark of beech trees evokes elephant skin, making beech strikingly unique among the large trees of the forest. This smooth bark sometimes offers signs of mammals that have passed by: claw marks left by climbing bears, or declarations of love etched by romantic humans.
Easily confused with a European beech, the American beech can be distinguished by its spiky fruits, found singly or in twos or threes (whereas the fruits of the European beech are found only singly on the branches). Both beech trees have beautiful, smooth grey bark, somewhat reminiscent of an elephant's skin.
known as white birch, is truly a tree for all seasons.
Beech, common (Fagus sylvatica)
The American beech is a tree with smooth gray bark and glossy foliage that yields edible beechnuts enjoyed by wildlife. It's very easy to grow and is low-maintenance.
Beech tree bark (Fagus sylvatica)
Beech tree bark is smooth and grey, with bosses and lumps as tree ages.
You can identify a poplar tree usually from the bark. Poplar trees commonly have gray, white, or black bark with horizontal lines or diamond-shaped marks that darken as the tree ages. In addition, you may have a poplar if the tree in question is very tall and columnar.
The American beech is native to eastern North America and found throughout the state of North Carolina. It is a sturdy, imposing, large deciduous tree typically growing to 60 to 80 feet tall or more with a dense, upright-oval to a rounded-spreading crown and smooth bark that remains smooth as the tree ages.
American beech Fagaceae Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. Leaf: Alternate, simple, elliptical to oblong-ovate, 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches long, pinnately-veined, 11-14 pairs of veins, with each vein ending in a sharp distinct tooth, shiny green above, very waxy and smooth, slightly paler below.
River birch – Betula nigra
River birch in particular is a wonderful ornamental member of the birch family, with the cultivar 'Heritage' being among the most popular. The attractive bark exfoliates year-round, sloughing off in curled sheets.
There are many trees that have interesting bark that is loose or peeling. Some of the more common trees in our area with peeling bark include river birch, lacebark elm, crape myrtle, sycamore and bald cypress.
Two types of trees that are abundant in these beautiful hills are aspen and birch. These two trees are commonly mistaken for each other due to their similar appearance. Both species are tall and slender, have white bark, and are deciduous, meaning they lose their leaves in the fall.
The alligator juniper is named for its distinctive bark that resembles the rough, checkered skin of an alligator. This species can either be a shrub or tree depending on the growing location and conditions.
No matter what age, everyone has some form of crepey skin on his or her body. Just take a look at your knees or elbows and you'll know what we mean. What you're seeing is also known as “elephant skin” because of its crinkly texture. Crepey skin comes from lowered levels of elastin and collagen (proteins).
Beech and birch leaves are deciduous trees, meaning they lose their leaves in the fall and grow new ones in the spring. However, beech leaves have a more smooth and shiny surface than birch leaves, which are more rough and bumpy. Beech trees have a straighter pattern than birch trees.
Appearance: Beechnuts are small, three-sided nuts with a triangular shape. They have a hard shell with a thin outer husk that splits open when mature. The shell is usually light brown in colour.
Growing 70 to 115 feet tall and 3 feet in diameter, the American beech has a uniform trunk, long, slender branches with dark green leaves that are elliptical in shape and end in a distinct point. Papery to the touch, the side of the leaf facing the sun is bright and shiny, while underneath is pale in color.
The bark is dark grey/brown and furrowed, with broad intersecting ridges and has a rough flaky appearance. In cross-section, the bark has alternating brown and white layers.
smooth grey bark, often with slight horizontal etchings. tassel-like male catkins hanging from long stalks. female flowers growing in pairs, surrounded by a cup. triangular beech nuts, known as beech masts, in prickly seed cases.
Bark on young trees is reddish grey with conspicuous pores (lenticels). Older bark is greyish-brown and scaly with thin, flaking plates.
General Description. Aspens can be identified by their smooth, white bark marked by black scars where lower branches are naturally self-pruned. Quaking Aspen leaves are somewhat heart shaped, with finely saw-toothed margins and range in size from 1.25-3" (3-8 cm) long.
The bark of an oak is very rough and thick, with deep fissures running vertically along the trunk, where a maple is much smoother and delicate to the eye. The coloration of oak bark is often a grey-brown shade (White Oak), with Red Oaks having a brown-brick reddish hue. Another telltale sign of an oak is the foliage.