Beechwood is hard, heavy, strong, not durable when exposed, and somewhat subject to attack by insects. European engineers employ it to a considerable extent in construction, but it is seldom used in America save for indoor finish, furniture, handles, flooring, and the like. The small edible nuts, known as beech-mast, are pressed abroad for a fixed oil, resembling and used in place of that from the olive. They are seldom gathered in this country, but are devoured by animals. Beech-trees have smooth, light-colored bark, and are very attractive in their winter appearance. They may be recognized earlier in the season by their small prickly burrs, each containing two triangular, sharp-edged nuts. There are fifteen or more species known to belong to this genus. _Fagus_ is from _phago_, to eat, and refers to the nut. [Illustration: PLATE 12. BEECH (_Fagus_).] The name Ironwood has been applied to Blue Beech (_Carpinus caroliniana_), to the Hornbeam (_Ostrya virginiana_), and to at least eight other North American species affording unusually hard and heavy woods, such as are used for handles [p061] and implements.[39] Trunks of trees affording these woods are generally small and the weight of the woods is so great as to prevent their use in construction. [p062] FOOTNOTES [Footnote 38: _Liber_, the Latin for book, is from _liber_, the inner bark of a tree, while _papyrus_, the Latin for paper, is from an Egyptian reed of that name. The words "book," "library," and "paper" are thus drawn from trees and plants.] * Keeler notes experiments made to prove resistance on part of beechwood. [Footnote 39: Prosopis juliflora, Olneya tesota, Guajacum sanctum, Cliftonia monophylla, Cyrilla racemiflora, Exothea paniculata, Bumelia tenax, Bumelia lycioides. (Sudworth.)] BEECH. _Fagus atropunicea (Marsh.) Sudworth._ _Fagus ferruginea Ait._ Nomenclature. (Sudworth.) Beech (local and common name). Red Beech (Me., Vt., Ky., Ohio.). White Beech (Me., Ohio., Mich.). Ridge Beech (Ark.). Locality. Nova Scotia to Florida, westward intermittently to Wisconsin and Texas. Features of Tree. Sixty to eighty feet, occasionally higher; two to four feet in diameter. Small rough burr contains two thin-shelled nuts. Color, Appearance, or Grain of Wood. Heartwood reddish, variable shades, sapwood white. Rather close-grained, conspicuous medullary rays. Structural Qualities of Wood. Hard, strong, tough, not durable when exposed. Takes fine polish. Liable to check during seasoning. Representative Uses of Wood. Shoe-lasts, plane-stocks, ship-building, handles, and fuel. Carpentry (abroad), wagon-making, etc. Weight of Seasoned Wood in Pounds per Cubic Foot. 42. Modulus of Elasticity. 1,720,000. Modulus of Rupture. 16,300. Remarks.