This predominantly southern species is easily identified by the corky ridges, or wings, on the young stems. The beech's yellow to bronze or brown, simple, elliptic, alternate leaves are on a very short petiole and are somewhat similar to the leaves of a number of other trees such as sweet birch and American elms. However, the smooth, light gray bark of the tree and the long, slender, pointed winter buds are sure identifiers, as are the fall clusters of brown, triangular beech nuts. These attractive trees are found on slopes near streams over most of eastern North America. Although the colorful fall leaves of beech are quite attractive, they soon die, turn brown, and then hang onto the tree well into the winter or even the next spring.
Black cherry leaves.
The gold to orange to red fall leaves of two species of wild cherry often add intense passages of color to the autumn woodlands and road sides. Black cherry is a valued timber tree found throughout most of eastern North America from Canada to Florida. The fruit is an important source of food for many forms of wildlife, and black cherry syrup has long been the standard base for many home medicines. The long, narrow leaves of black cherry are generally yellow, but may be tinged with red or rose. The leaves of the smaller, weedy and more northern fire cherry may be orange to maroon.