 Beech Trees - A Great Unfurling
Leaf bud of a beech tree.
The woods are especially wonderful this time of year. There is so much to watch! The changes happen so quickly now that the warm temperatures have arrived. It is the progress of the unfurling of beech leaves that I am especially enjoying in this week.
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My photos show the unfurling, from the leaf bud - which I think looks like a very pointy dog claw before it starts to expand and open to reveal the many leaves inside, to young expanded downward hanging leaves - which I call dog ears at this stage because they remind me of the long ears of hounds.
Progression of beech leaves unfurling from leaf buds.
Beech leaves close-up showing the downy hairs on young leaves, and a shot of young leaves in the canopy with maple and pine in the background.
The leaves will continue to mature and lose their hairs. I'll be watching their progress and cheering them on! I hope you will find some trees to watch and cheer on too.
- Learn more about beech trees on the last two pages of this section of the Forest Trees of Maine.
- Why do you think the young leaves are hairy? Could there be several reasons? How many can you think of? Write down your thoughts, and then look it up. Can you find out the scientific name for the hairs?
- Go for a walk in the morning and observe trees. If you can, measure a several low-hanging leaves. Take the same walk later in the afternoon and measure the same leaves. How much have they grown? Can you predict the change over the next day?
- If you can find a leaf bud, watch it daily and record the changes from opening to mature leaves. Record: How many days does it take? Was there a time when the growth was the fastest? Did you observe any lulls or slower growth periods? Can you relate any of the changes in growth to the weather?
Happy nature watching!
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