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Fagus sylvatica (Fagaceae)

Campania is a hilly and alpine region, rich in beech tree wood from 700 m of altitude till their peaks, which do not exceed 2000 m of height in Campania.

This specimen of beech tree is located on the upland of Campolaspierto (AV), isolated inside a clearing of a beech tree wood and it is one of the biggest and most interesting trees of Campania.

People have tried for many years to attract tourists in the upland of Campolaspierto, by designing a ski resort, repopulating the area with deers and organising trips with horses and carts, but all these attempts have failed.

Faja of Terminio is a secular tree of about 400 years of age, which is not so well known, its dimensions are remarkable, the trunk circumference is of 7 m and the height reaches 28 m. Its aspect is similar to the one of a candelabra, since its branches stand out forming a lush foliage.

How to get there:

Follow highway A16 Naples-Canosa and exit at Avellino Est, take the connecting road Avellino-Salerno and exit at Serino, from here drive on following the highway n. 574 till Campolaspierto.

Botanical characteristics:

Western beech trees are spread all over occidental Europe. They grow in plain lands in Central Europe, while they are located in alpine environments in the Southern area.

They are spread in the Italian alpine areas of all the regions and oriental Mediterranean islands. The perfect habitat for beech trees is between 600 and 1300 meters of altitude, while it is located at higher heights, 1000-1700 m, in the Italian Peninsula (Pignatti, 1982).

They belong to a mesophilic and schiaphilous species, which prefers loose, fresh, fertile and well-drained soils. They can form pure forests (beech tree woods) or they can mix with Silver Firs or other broadleaved plants depending on the latitude and altitude.

They are able to produce high quantities of pollen which allows them to make new sprouts blossom from old stumps.

Their wood is hard and resistant, but easily workable, because of these reasons it is used in the construction of household products and furniture, in addition it is an excellent fuel and produces charcoal of a high quality.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)