Small trees, beech rarely grows to maturity due to a fungal infection. This renders the smooth grey bark knobby and misshapen. The leaves are distinctive: shiny dark green and stiff. Each vein ends in a tooth. Their outline is mostly ovate. Flowers and seeds are not produced until trees are 40 years old. Flowers appear before the leaves have expanded, usually in May. Staminate and pistillate flowers are separate on the trees. Seeds may be found in October and November. Usualy 4 triangular nutlets are produced within each bur.

Very common across the northern region with sugar maple.

If you are lucky enough to find an older tree, the nutlets are delicious raw. Be warned, you will be competing with a variety of birds, squirrels, and chipmunks.