Fagaceae

Fagaceae (Beech family)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Fagales
Family:	Fagaceae

Genera

  Fagus (the beeches)
  Castanea (the chestnuts)
  Castaneopsis
  Quercus (the oaks)
  Lithocarpus (the tanbarks)

The family Fagaceae, or beech family, is characterized by alternate, entire leaves with pinnate venation, flowers in the form of catkins, and fruit in the form of nuts, either one or two in a scale or spiny husk that may or may not enclose the nut. The best-known group of this family is the oaks, genus Quercus, the fruit of which is called an acorn. The husk of the acorn in most oaks only forms a cap on the nut.

This family is closely allied with the Betulaceae, the birch family.

Encyclopedia Home Page

Fagaceae