A Deep Dive Into The Family Fagaceae

Taxonomy can be a rather dry subject, but it's important to categorize the denizens of the world around us, if only for sanity's sake. The live oak groves and hammocks of Back Bay and False Cape are as distinctive as they are crucial for the ecology of the area. I am quite partial to the live oak, if you couldn't tell by my previous entries. However, I'm not here to once again wax poetic about this particular tree species. On the contrary, I want to zoom out a little bit and focus on the family Fagacae. Fagaceae, commonly known as the beech family, encompasses species of oaks, beeches, and chestnuts (RIP, American Chestnut). While on the surface these trees may not seem to have anything in common, they share some unique traits.

Fagaceae Common Traits

• Species grow in temperate climates in the Northern Hemisphere and Southeast Asia 
• All members of approximately 10 genera are believed to share a common ancestor  
• Consists of two subfamilies, Fagoideae (oaks and beeches) and Castaneoidae (chestnuts, chinkapins)
• Monoecious, producing both flowers (female reproductive structure) and catkins (male reproductive structure)
• Simple, alternate, sometimes lobed leaves that are rarely divided
• Fruit encased in a capule (acorn) or spiny shell (chestnut, chinkapin, beech)
• Economically valuable, this hardwood is an important source of lumber and one species provides cork as well 
• Deciduous species known to retain desiccated leaves well into the winter/early spring 

American beech (Fagus grandifolia) retaining leaves in the winter. Photo credit: Blake Gardner https://northernwoodlands.org/articles/article/why-do-some-leaves-persist-on-beech-and-oak-trees-well-into-winter

Fagaceae in Southeastern Virginia

False Cape State Park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge house many species from the family Fagaceae. We've already talked about the Live Oak (Quercus viginiana) and the American beech (Fagus grandifolia), but let's look at just how many species in this part of Virginia fall under the beech family umbrella: 

• Alleghany chinkapin (Castanea pumila)
• White oak (Quercus alba)
• Post oak (Quercus stellata)
• Swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii)
• Live oak (Quercus virginiana)
• Laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia)
• Northern red oak (Quercus rubra)
• Southern red oak (Quercus falcata)
• Black oak (Quercus velutina)
• Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica)
• Water oak (Quercus nigra)
• Willow oak (Quercus phellos)
• American beech (Fagus grandifolia)

Looking at the list above, it shouldn't be surprising that most of the forests east of the Mississippi River in the United States are dominated by trees belonging to the family Fagaceae. The seeds of these trees are extremely important for wildlife, the robust lumber has been valued by human beings for thousands of years, and the gorgeous fall colors of the oak-dominated forests of the Eastern United States attract millions of tourists every year. 

The aptly-named Northern red oak (Quercus rubra) showing off some fall foliage. Photo credit: https://arbordayblog.org/treeoftheweek/northern-red-oak-tree-ease/

So the next time you find yourself taking a stroll through Virginia's forests, maybe take some time to notice how many oaks and beeches you see. While much of BBNWR's clumps of high ground tend to be dominated by live oaks and smaller shrubs, False Cape State Park has mature forests that house numerous species from the family Fagaceae. In the autumn, acorns and beech nuts fall thick on the ground, feeding birds, squirrels, deer, and countless other species throughout the winter. A healthy forest usually has Fagaceae trees to thank! 

Sources/further reading:

Dallwitz, M.J. & Watson, L. (1992). The Families of Angiosperms-Fagaceae Dum. Retrieved from: https://www.delta-intkey.com/angio/www/fagaceae.htm

Simpson, M.G. (2010). Diversity and Classification of Flowering Plants: Eudicots-Fagaceae. Plant Systematics (Second Edition). 275-448. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-374380-0.50008-7

Snyder, M. (2010). Why Do Some Leaves Persist On Beech and Oak Trees Well Into Winter? Northern Woodlands. Retrieved from: https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3551870300423981302/6647427468945309376

Virginia Department of Forestry (2016). Common Native Trees of Virginia. Retrieved from: https://hampton.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30454/Virginia-Common-Native-Trees-Native-Tree-ID-spreads_2016_pub

Vivid Maps (2022). Native Oak Tree Ranges in the United States. Retrieved from: https://vividmaps.com/native-oak-tree-ranges-in-the-united-states/

Wikipedia (15 Jul 2022). Fagaceae. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagaceae