Editing Beech (section)

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants in the family Fagaceae}}
{{About|the genus of trees|other uses|Beech (disambiguation)|and|Beechwood (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Beach|Birch|Fagus (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Beech
| image = Fagus sylvatica Purpurea JPG4a.jpg
| image_caption = European beech (''[[Fagus sylvatica]]'')
| parent_authority = [[Karl Koch (botanist)|K.Koch]]
| taxon = Fagus
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
| type_species = ''[[Fagus sylvatica]]''
| type_species_authority = [[Carl von Linné|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See [[#Species|text]]
}}
'''Beech''' (genus '''''Fagus''''') is a [[genus]] of [[deciduous]] trees in the family [[Fagaceae]], native to subtropical (accessory forest element) and temperate (as dominant element of [[Mesophyte|mesophytic]] forests) [[Eurasia]] and North America. There are 14 accepted species in two distinct subgenera, ''Englerianae'' {{Small|Denk & G.W.Grimm}} and ''Fagus''.<ref name="Denk-2024">{{Cite journal |last1=Denk |first1=Thomas |last2=Grimm |first2=Guido W. |last3=Cardoni |first3=Simone |last4=Csilléry |first4=Katalin |last5=Kurz |first5=Mirjam |last6=Schulze |first6=Ernst-Detlef |last7=Simeone |first7=Marco Cosimo |last8=Worth |first8=James R. P. |date=2024 |title=A subgeneric classification of Fagus (Fagaceae) and revised taxonomy of western Eurasian beeches |journal=Willdenowia |volume=54 |issue=2–3 |doi=10.3372/wi.54.54301 |issn=0511-9618|doi-access=free }}</ref> The subgenus ''Englerianae'' is found only in East Asia, distinctive for its low branches, often made up of several major trunks with yellowish bark. The better known species of subgenus ''Fagus'' are native to Europe, western and eastern Asia and eastern North America. They are high-branching trees with tall, stout trunks and smooth silver-grey bark.

The European beech ''[[Fagus sylvatica]]'' is the most commonly cultivated species, yielding a utility timber used for furniture construction, flooring and engineering purposes, in plywood, and household items. The timber can be used to build homes. Beechwood makes excellent [[firewood]]. Slats of washed beech wood are spread around the bottom of fermentation tanks for [[Budweiser]] beer. Beech logs are burned to dry the [[malt]] used in some German [[smoked beer]]s. Beech is also used to smoke [[Westphalian ham]], [[andouille]] sausage, and some cheeses.