The beech scale is most active on the tree’s bark. When beech trees are young the bark is grey and smooth with some horizontal markings. There are two types of tree roots. The smaller and invisible absorbing roots provide the tree with water and nutrients from the soil. Some have argued that this is more a feature of beech trees imported from abroad for timber, as many more native beech trees have much more twisted forms typical of the U.S. Forest Service photo. Winter, however, emphasizes this tree's other notable attributes - its long, thin, pointed, brown leaf buds and its smooth, thin, light gray, "wrinkled" bark that resembles an elephant's hide. the … Ontario's beech trees are slowly being consumed by a disease that's been on a steady march through the province for decades, experts say. An infected beech tree showing characteristic white spots on the bark. Leaves. The American beech, a dominant species in the upland forests of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, is seriously threatened by Beech Bark Disease (BBD). For European beech, soil compaction can result in the development of puddles around the base of the tree and bark wounding from vandalism (e.g. Splashing rainwater spreads the spores from the soil to the lower trunk where infections establish in wounded bark. Beech bark disease comes as a two-part attack. Beech trees, with their smooth whitish-gray trunk bark and serrated oval shaped leaves, may grow up to 120 feet tall. Due to intensive, night-long feeding sessions, small canker-like spots start appearing on the bark. The tree fell in 1916 and had a girth of 28-1/2 feet. Zone 2: The ground under the tree, including the visible roots and the first three feet up the trunk. Like oak, beech often holds on to its bottom leaves throughout winter. The most visible are the large anchoring (structural) roots, which hold up the tree. Beech Scale Symptoms. American beech (Fagus grandifolia), whose smooth gray trunks can resemble giant elephant legs, can grow to almost 40 meters tall. American beech bark is nearly white and is much paler than European beech. There was a Beech tree on the old stage road between Blountville and Jonesborough, Tennessee that had an inscription carved into the trunk that read "D. Boone Cilled A Bar On Tree In Year 1760." Beech tree leaves emerge lime green in spring, unfolding like fans and covered in silvery, silky hairs. This beech tree, though rather stout still displays a prime characteristic of many modern British beech trees - the vast, thick and very straight column like trunk. It feeds incessantly by inserting its sharp mouthpart into the bark. Some varieties, like the Japanese beech, thrive in full shade; while others, like the weeping European beech, prefer full sun. American beech is a good looking tree with tight, smooth and skin-like light gray bark. 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