2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Beech / Fagus / is a genus of deciduous deciduous trees distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. The genus includes about 10 species. They are characterized by a smooth gray bark and large, spindle-shaped brown buds with a pointed tip. Their leaves are simple, with a short stalk, arranged consecutively on the branches.
The fruits are located 1-2, sometimes more, in a fruit dome (Latin cupula). Once the fruit is ripe, the dome cracks into four sections and the fruit falls off. They resemble a walnut, with a brown woody shell, three-walled, but due to their specificity they are called acorns.
Types of beech
On the territory of Bulgaria there are only two species of the Beech family: the common beech / Fagus sylvatica / and the eastern beech / Fagus orientalis /. Fagus grandifolia is found in North America, and East Asia is richer in species - F. crenata, F. japonica, F. engleriana, F. lucida and others grow there. An analogue of the genus Beech from the Southern Hemisphere is the genus Nothofagus.
The ordinary beech is a large deciduous tree, reaching 40 m in height and 1.5 m in diameter, living to 200-300 years of age. It differs from the eastern beech in that the veins of the leaves on each side of the main nerve are 7-8, and the fruit shell is on its entire surface with only awl-shaped growths. The common beech blooms in March-April, at the same time as the leafing, and its fruits ripen in autumn. At the same time, the eastern beech is blooming. Apart from our country, this species is also found in Europe, without the extreme southwestern, northern and northeastern parts.
Eastern beech is a deciduous tree, reaching a height of 30 m. Its bark is light gray and smooth. The annual branches of the eastern beech are fibrous and drooping, and later they are stripped and lifted. The leaves of the tree are elliptical, almost leathery. The veins of the leaves are 9-11 pieces. This species is distributed in Southeast Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Iran. In Bulgaria it is found in pure plantations in the Eastern Stara Planina, Eastern Rhodopes and in Strandzha.
Composition of beech
Beech fruits contain up to 23% protein, up to 31% fat, up to 36% nitrogen-free extractives, up to 2.3% tannins and dyes, up to 3% mineral salts. The domes contain the alkaloid phagin, which is poisonous to horses and donkeys.
The most valuable ingredient in acorns is the fatty oil, which is obtained by pressing. It contains fatty acids / oleic, linoleic, linolenic /, saturated fatty acids, unsaponifiable matter, glyceride residue and others.
The wood of beech is one of the main sources of creosote, which consists of a number of phenols. Free amino acids such as alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, arginine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid, glycine and others are found in beech sap.
Growing beech
In the large parks and spacious gardens there are impressive representatives of the Beech family. Beech hedges have been created, as well as colorful varieties for planting large areas. It can be said that all varieties need a lot of space and almost nothing grows under the canopy of their dense leaves.
The adult specimen of F. sylvatica forms a magnificent crown of shiny green leaves, which turn yellow in autumn and then turn brown. This species is too tall for an ordinary garden, but it is suitable for hedges.
For the garden it is good to choose one of the varieties -Fastigiata, which would not take up much space - heterophylla / fern beech / or Pendula / weeping beech /. The most impressive are the variegated varieties - the golden Aurea Pendula or the most sought after purpurea. Purpurea Pendula is a small variety with a mushroom-like crown. Riversii variety has the brightest colored leaves.
Beech is almost unpretentious in terms of soil, but still heavy clay soils should be avoided. Acorns are sown outdoors in the fall. Seed germination is from 60 to 90%, but is relatively short. Grow variegated varieties in bright sun. Prune trees and hedges in July.
At a young age / between 30 and 60 years / the tree gives umbilical shoots when cutting the central stem and almost does not form root shoots. The height growth of beech in the first few decades has been slow. It reaches its maximum height at the age of 100-120, after which it continues to grow in width.
The central root of the beech grows very intensively in the first years, but then the lateral roots grow strongly, thus forming a stable root system. Some of the superficial lateral roots point upwards and their branches are located in the dead soil cover.
Collection and storage of beech
Both types beech are harvested in October. Of the trees, acorns / Fructus Fagi / and wood / Lignum Fagi / are used. Once the acorn domes are fully ripe, they crack. At this time, the trees are cleaned of twigs and leaves, then canvases or tarpaulins are laid and acorns easily fall on the mats by humming. Fallen acorns are cleaned by hand with a fan, and damaged fruit is removed.
The cleaned ones are spread on bedding in ventilated rooms to dry. In dry and sunny weather, this procedure can be done in the forest itself. At night, however, acorns should be well covered with canvas. The most successful results are obtained when the acorns are dried in an oven at a temperature of up to 60 degrees, but with good ventilation. Dried fruits are stored in dry, ventilated and clean rooms, and it is advisable to check their condition from time to time.
Benefits of beech
Beech is a honey and ornamental plant. The oily oil (Oleum Fagi fructibus) obtained by cold pressing of beech acorns has a pleasant smell and pleasant taste. The oil is used for food, in the canning industry, for the production of margarine and others. The extracted fatty oil from acorns by hot pressing is also used in the soap industry. Acorns and their husks are excellent food for fattening pigs.
Wood, especially ordinary beech, is used in the production of plywood, parquet, furniture, mining supports, sleepers, for the extraction of cellulose and charcoal, tar, which contains creosite, xylene, guaiacol, acetone, etc.
Beech acorns are also used in medicine because they are rich in protein, sugar, vitamin E, organic acids and more. In modern medicine, only the tar obtained from beech wood is important. The tar is applied externally for lubrication. It acts as an antiseptic and antifungal. It also reduces itching in skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and scabies.
It also has a beneficial effect on bronchial inflammation. The healing properties of beech help with diseases and problems with skin and eye diseases, diseases of the skeletal system and muscles, digestive disorders, kidney problems and diseases, to strengthen the body's immune system and first aid.
Folk medicine with beech
Bulgarian folk medicine recommends the leaves of beech for the treatment of jaundice, fever and cramps. In case of cough, the following recipe is offered: 200 g of beech acorns are roasted like coffee, then ground. Mix with 500 g of honey. Take one tablespoon of the mixture 3-4 times a day before meals.
Prepare a decoction of beech bark by putting a handful of finely chopped bark of the plant in 250-300 ml of boiling water. Two or three glasses of the prepared decoction are drunk every day. It is used to treat urinary tract infections, rheumatism, fever, etc.
According to another folk recipe, about 50 g of beech bark is taken and left to boil for a few minutes. The recommended dose to be taken is two to three glasses a day.
Beech buds can be eaten raw for urinary tract infections and rheumatism.
Baths with beech infusion also help with rheumatism. For this purpose, young beech twigs are taken, from which the decoction is made. The bark of the tree can also be used, which should be mixed with lukewarm water.
If you want to clean and refresh your skin in an unconventional way, then you can try wood ash from beech. This atypical method of beautification will surely tone and nourish it. With the beech ash made in our folk medicine, warts on the skin are also removed.
In case of diarrhea and stomach ailments, Bulgarian folk medicine advises to use beech bark. A decoction is prepared from it and two or three glasses are drunk every day.
For fever, boil two tablespoons of finely chopped bark of the plant in 250-300 ml of water. Once ready, the decoction is allowed to cool, filtered well and taken one spoon every hour for the whole day.
In case of wounds, the leaves of the tree are taken and a fine powder is made from them, with which the sore spot is applied.
Harms of beech
Great care must be taken when using beech acorns, as the fruits are poisonous when consumed raw and in large quantities.
Also keep in mind that the use of beech wood tar in the undiluted state may irritate the skin and mucous membranes, and its prolonged use can lead to inflammatory changes.
