Flora Friday - Beech

 Hi guys,

Today I am attempting to do the Beech tree justice.

I have a feeling that just like the willow, it is going to be a bit longer than some other posts.

Beech is a deciduous tree in the family of Fagaceae, and one of approximately thirteen species.

It is native to temperate Europe, North America and Asia.

It has both male and female flowers on each plant, the flowers or catkins appear in the Spring, and the beechnuts, or mast, appear in the autumn. These are small, roughly triangular seeds that are edible, but bitter to the taste, astringent and taste slightly nutty.

Uses:

• Furniture framing
• Flooring
• Plywood manufacture
• Firewood
• Smoking foodstuffs (some German smoked beers, ham, sausages and cheese)
• Beer making (an American lager uses slats in the bottom of the fermentation barrel)
• Drum making
• Creosote
• Rifle stocks
• Animal Husbandry (17th Century Switzerland)
• Pigment making (bistre - a greyish/brown colour- was made from the soot)
• Beechwood tablets were common before the advent of paper, and is the root of the word for book in English, Dutch, Swedish, some Slavic languages and German.
• Oil production - can be used as a lighting fuel, a lubricant and for polishing wood
• Toothpicks

Medicinal:

• Anti fever (bark)
• Antacid (bark)
• Antiseptic (bark)
• Relieves coughs (bark)
• Expectorant
• Relieves toothache
• Treatment of Skin Conditions

• Used as a Bach flower remedy for intolerance - 

Bach flower Beech:- Bach flower Beech helps guard against:

• Being intolerant 
• Judging too quickly 
• Giving contemptuous and intolerant criticism 
• Sharp judgement 
• Having difficulties with differences  (taken from Bach Flower Remedies)

Edible parts:

- The young leaves are edible raw and are often used in salads, but very quickly become too tough to eat, so harvest early.

- The seed can be dried and ground to use with other flours as seed should not be eaten in large quantities, as it contains an ingredient that could be harmful.

- The seed contains an oil said to store well and be similar to olive oil in both uses and delicacy.

- The roasted seed can be used as a coffee substitute, but please do keep intake to a minimum.

- The bark has medicinal properties, as outlined above.

In magic:

Linked with the elements of both air and earth, beech groves have been found near important sites, Avebury and Cerne Abbas to name but two,.

The Beech Queen is the consort of the Oak King.

The high arches of the beech tree are said to be inspiration for the building of cathedrals.

Often linked with the serpent in various mythologies.

• Books of Shadow were said to be traditionally made of either beech paper or covered in beechwood
• The original Futhark runes were said to be produced on beechwood tablets
• Ancient knowledge revealed
• Let go of fixed ideas
• Time
• Generosity of Spirit
• Good Luck

Deities associated the the beech tree include:

• Odin (Norse)
• Cronus (Greek)
• Ogma (Gaelic)
• Thoth (Egypt)
• Mercury (Roman)
• Ceridwen (Celtic/Welsh)
• Hermes (Greek)

 In Victorian flower language, Beech tree means prosperity and lovers tryst. It doesn't have an Ogham rune. (I thought it DID have an Ogham, but I believe on researching it that I was confused with the Birch).

As always, consult a professional before adding anything into your diet/life.

I hope this post helps.

Kerenza x

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