Fagus orientalis (Oriental Beech)

Oriental beech is a deciduous tree that grows up to 65 feet tall and is one of the most common tree species in Northern Turkey. The leaves are alternating, simple, and whole or slightly crenate, long and wide, having veins on both sides. Buds are long and thin, long and thick, and thicker when flower buds are present. In the spring, flowers develop as catkins immediately after the leaves emerge. Seeds are tiny triangular nuts that are long and wide at the base, with two nuts in each cupule, mature 5-6 months following pollination in the autumn. The cupule of the European Beech varies in that it has flattened, somewhat leaf-like appendages near the base.