1 November 2023
You’ll be able to inform a tree by way of its nuts: American beech
In the event you discover a small spiny pill at the wooded area ground that opens to show two to a few nuts (on this case two are properly packed in combination) you’ve discovered beechnuts. With out even taking a look up you’ll make sure you’re close to an American beech (Fagus grandifolia).
The fruit [of Fagus grandifolia] is a triangle-shaped shell containing 2–3 nuts inside of, however lots of them don’t fill in, particularly on solitary bushes. Beech nuts are candy and nutritious, will also be eaten uncooked by way of natural world and people, or will also be cooked. They are able to even be roasted and flooring right into a espresso replace.
Beechnuts will also be eaten uncooked? Neatly, it’s sophisticated. Foraging Beech Nuts explains that it’s perfect to let the pills dry out for 2-3 weeks after which prepare dinner the nuts as a result of some other folks get throat inflammation from the uncooked seed coating.
In Pittsburgh’s parks beechnuts will also be exhausting to search out as a result of they’re so well-liked by deer and squirrels. Nonetheless in search of a beech with out taking a look up? Right here’s some other clue.
Beech drops are parasitic on Fagus grandifolia roots so should you see those neatly camouflaged crops you’re without a doubt close to an American beech. Examine them at On The Beech.
Taking a look up at American beech bushes this month you’ll see brown beech leaves clinging to the branches.
The trunk has easy grey bark.
And on the finish of iciness, small American beeches have light, damn leaves that lead them to stand out within the wooded area.
By way of the top of iciness all of the beechnuts might be both eaten or hidden.
p.s. In the event you’re my age you almost certainly consider Beech-Nut chewing gum. Had been there beech nuts in it? (No, Beech-Nut peppermint gum had a unique peppery zing.) No matter came about to the sweet? (Sweet department went defunct in 1976.) Learn concerning the Beech-Nut corporate right here.
(footage by way of Kate St. John excluding for the beech drops photograph by way of Scott Zona by the use of Flickr Ingenious Commons license)