Beech

Beech (Fagus)
Species information
Endemic to	Europe Asia North America
Sentience	Non-sentient
Usage	Wand wood
Status	Extant

Beech (genus Fagus) is the common name for a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America. The leaves of beech trees are entire or sparsely toothed, from 5–15 cm long and 4–10 cm broad. The flowers are small single-sex, the female flowers borne in pairs, the male flowers wind-pollinating catkins, produced in spring shortly after the new leaves appear.

There was a beech tree by the edge of the Black Lake, on Hogwarts Castle grounds.

Wandlore

The true match for a beech wand will be, if young, wise beyond his or her years, and if full-grown, rich in understanding and experience. Beech wands perform very weakly for the narrow-minded and intolerant.

Such wizards and witches, having obtained a beech wand without having been suitably matched (yet coveting this most desirable, richly hued and highly prized wand wood), have often presented themselves at the homes of learned wandmakers, demanding to know the reason for their handsome wand’s lack of power. When properly matched, the beech wand is capable of a subtlety and artistry rarely seen in any other wood, hence its lustrous reputation.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First mentioned)
• Pottermore