The lifespan of a beech tree is about 300 years. When an old tree dies, a new ecosystem starts thereafter. The dead tree will be decomposed by fungi, microbes, and other organisms. The rich soil thus produced will then nourish the next generation of trees that compete among themselves for sunlight and nutrients.
[Clockwise from upper right]
Flowering: In early spring, male and female flowers appear with young leaves. The yellow buds of the male flowers make the entire tree yellow in appearance.
Fruiting: Scientific surveys have revealed that beech trees bear fruit, called beechnuts, once every 5 to 7 years, which is followed by less fruitful years. The nuts are a source of precious food for many animals.
Germination: Most nuts are consumed by large and small animals. The few nuts that are left uneaten on the ground germinate in the winter or early spring. The optimum temperature for germination is very low (0 to 10 degree Celsius) and therefore they can germinate even under snow.
Seedlings: Seedlings grow slowly, only a few millimeters to a centimeter a year, depending on the amount of sunlight they receive. Many seedlings grow following the year of bearing fruit, but only a few of them survive.
Young beech trees: Most of the young beech trees cannot bear the weight of snow in the winter. After the process of natural selection, only a few of them become mature trees.
Mature trees: Beech trees bear flowers after 40 to 50 years and bear fruits (nuts) after 60 to 80 years when they are about 30 cm in diameter.
