American Beech

American Beech - Fagus grandifolia: A medium sized tree. Leaves altenate, simple, deciduous, 2.5 to 5 inches long, 1 to 2.5 inches wide. Fruit is a 3 angled nut, enclosed in a bur covered capsule. Trigs often zigzag with terminal buds 1 inch long. Bark is thin, smooth, gray.
Range from southeastern Canada to Wisconsin south to the Northern part of florida and west to Eastern Texas.
The nuts are used extensively by small game animals, deer and birds.