Dark gray in color, thin scaly plates separated by shallow fissures. Softer and lighter in weight than hard maple, weighing about 3.2 lbs. Fagus gradifolia Beech grows throughout the eastern United States except for southern Florida. The bud is also distinctive in that it looks like a miniature cigar. The bark is very distinctive being light gray in color and very smooth and thin.
People like to carve their initials in it.
It is strong, hard and heavy, weighing about 3.8 lbs. It is diffuse, porous, and has inter-locking grain which requires care in drying. It grows throughout the eastern part of the United States. There are about 20 species of Ash found throughout the world but only five are important in this country. In the Appalachian area only the White Ash is of commercial importance.