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Fagus sylvatica (Fagaceae)

This huge beech tree grows within a young beech tree forest in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.

The monumental beech tree is the symbol of the park and the reason is evident once you are in its presence: its size is extraordinary (8.30 m circumference and 28 m height) and its shape is wonderful.

The big trunk is probably the result of more trunks that grew from an old stump and fused together centuries ago.

It’s hard to tell the age of this specimen. Most certainly, it is many centuries old, probably 750 years old, and in good shape.

The big beech tree won the first prize at the photographic contest “Gli alberi dell’Unità d’Italia” (“Trees of Italy’s unification) promoted by Società Geografica Italiana and Fondazione UniVerde, with the aim to raise awareness in young people about the themes of nature and safeguard.

A walk at the feet of one of the biggest Italian patriarchs is a must for everyone who is in its vicinity and wants to be amazed, once more, by nature.

How to reach it:

The tree can be reached by path n. H5 that you can find along the road that goes from Villetta Barrea (AQ) to Scanno, località Pontone.

European beech botanical card:

As hinted by its name, European beech is common in western Europe. In central and northern Europe, it grows in plains, whereas in the south it grows in the mountains.

In Italy, it is common in the mountain areas of all the regions and in the eastern Mediterranean islands. The best environment is in the Alps between 600 and 1300 m of altitude. In peninsular Italy its best environment is higher, between 1000 and 1700 m (Pignatti, 1982).

It is a mesophilic and it prefers shade and loose fresh fertile and well-drained grounds. It can create pure woods (beech forests) or mixed ones with silver fir and other deciduous trees, depending on the latitude and altitude.

European beech creates many pollens, allowing it to create new buds from the old stump.

The wood of this specie is hard and resistant yet easy to manipulate. For these reasons, it is used to build furniture and household goods. Furthermore, it is an excellent fuel and produces a very fine coal.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)