Right off the trail stands a large American beech tree. Its leaves turn golden in the fall and stay on the tree all winter, which is a process called marcescence. Here you might even find some edible beechnuts on the forest floor—they’re brown, triangular nuts with spiny husks.
During the winter, many beech trees hold onto some of their leaves (Megan McCabe/NOAA).
winter
A beech tree in the springtime. (Megan McCabe/NOAA).
spring
The massive tree stands tall and lush in the summer (Matt McIntosh/NOAA).
summer
You may find beechnuts scattered along the forest floor, an important source of food for wildlife that can also be consumed by humans (Matt McIntosh/NOAA).
summer
