Fagus crenata

Siebold’s beech is in the beech or Fagaceae family and is native to Japan where it is widespread and often one of the dominant trees from Hokkaido to Kyushu. It can become a large tree, reaching up to 35 m in height.

• Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate or elliptical, 13 cm long and 5 cm across, containing 7–11 vein-pairs, having a corrugated appearance. The leaf margins are wavy, often hairy on younger leaves 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 short stocks and flattened green whiskers at the base of the husk; there are 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.