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Beech
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Family: |
Fagaceae |
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Scientific Name: |
Fagus sylvatica L. |
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Description: |
Soaring tree that can grow until 40 meters with
thick and conic-ovoidal foliage and grey and smooth bark. Its
leaves have ovate-elliptical blade with entire and lightly
repand margin. Monoecious plant with male hanging flowers and
erect female ones. The fruits are called “faggiole” (Beech Nuts)
coupled inside the cupule that blooms when they are ripe. The
Beech Nuts flowering occurs every 5-10 years. |
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Ecology: |
In the Park the beech is the dominant arboreal
species that creates large and almost pure woods from 900-1000
to 1700 meters. It grows on basically calcareous and cool
grounds and likes the temperate-oceanic climate. |
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Interest: |
The most beautiful and imposing beeches can be
found in S. Antonio’s wood in Pescocostanzo. In this biotope the
trees have a candelabrum-like carriage, because of its old "defence"
posting. The defences were arboreous pastures solely reserved to
the heavy livestock (cattle and equines). The trees were subject
to recurring pollards that gave them the typical candelabrum
appearance, namely as a big trunk from which its benches
vertically leave. In S. Antonio’s wood besides imposing beeches
it can be found pyrasters (Pyrus Pyraster), lindens, maples and
ash trees. Moreover, the wood composition allows the coexistence
of several nemoral and ecotone species (ribes, gooseberry,
hawthorn). Very important is the recent sighting, in this area,
of an unusual purple orchid Epipactis.
In the winter 2000 a strong wind caused the pulling down of
“Candelabrum Beech", thought as symbolic tree the age of which,
about 270 years, has been assessed through the ring counting. |
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Curiosities: |
The "faggiole" (Beech Nuts) were used, in the
past, for the production of famous Sulmona Comfits. |
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