Fagus engleriana

Chinese beech is in the beech or Fagaceae family and is native to central and eastern China where it grows in broad-leaved and mixed forests. It can become a large tree, reaching up to 24 m in height.

• Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate or elliptical, 13 cm long and 5 cm across, containing 10–14 vein-pairs. The leaf margins are wavy, hairless, rough and sparsely toothed.
• The species is monoecious, with round clusters of white flowers 2 cm in diameter hanging from short stems.
• Female flowers develop into spiny husks with 3 triangular seeds inside.
• Winter twigs are distinctive, having buds which are long, slender and sharply pointed, with two rows of overlapping scales on the buds.