Beech
European Beech (Fagus sylvatica), leaves and cupules
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fagales
Family:	Fagaceae
Genus:	Fagus L.
Species
Fagus crenata – Japanese Beech Fagus engleriana – Chinese Beech Fagus grandifolia – American Beech Fagus hayatae – Taiwan Beech Fagus japonica – Japanese Blue Beech Fagus longipetiolata – South Chinese Beech Fagus lucida – Shining Beech Fagus mexicana – Mexican Beech or Haya Fagus orientalis – Oriental Beech Fagus sylvatica – European Beech Fagus taurica

Beech (Fagus) is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.

The southern beeches (Nothofagus genus) previously thought closely related to beeches, are now treated as members of a separate family, Nothofagaceae. They are found in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Argentina and Chile (principally Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego).

Habit[link]

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 (monoecious), the female flowers borne in pairs, the male flowers wind-pollinating catkins, produced in spring shortly after the new leaves appear. The bark is smooth and light grey. The fruit is a small, sharply three–angled nut 10–15 mm long, borne singly or in pairs in soft-spined husks 1.5–2.5 cm long, known as cupules. The nuts are edible, though bitter (though not nearly as bitter as acorns) with a high tannin content, and are called beechnuts or beechmast.

Beech grows on a wide range of soil types, acid or basic, provided they are not waterlogged. The tree canopy casts dense shade, and carpets the ground with dense leaf litter, and the ground flora beneath may be sparse.

In North America, they often form Beech-Maple climax forests by partnering with the Sugar Maple.

The beech blight aphid (Grylloprociphilus imbricator) is a common pest of beech trees. Beeches are also used as food plants by some species of Lepidoptera (see list of Lepidoptera that feed on beeches).

Uses[link]

Beech wood is an excellent firewood, easily split and burning for many hours with bright but calm flames. Chips of beech wood are used in the brewing of Budweiser beer as a fining agent. Beech logs are burned to dry the malts used in some German smoked beers, giving the beers their typical flavor. Beech is also used to smoke some cheeses.

Some drums are made from beech, which has a tone between those of maple and birch, the two most popular drum woods.

The textile modal is a kind of rayon often made wholly from the reconstituted cellulose of pulped beech wood.^[1][2][3]

The European species Fagus sylvatica yields a utility timber that is tough but dimensionally unstable. It weighs about 720 kg per cubic metre and is widely used for furniture framing and carcass construction, flooring and engineering purposes, in plywood and in household items like plates, but rarely as a decorative wood. The timber can be used to build chalets, houses and log cabins.

Beech wood is used for the stocks of military rifles when traditionally preferred woods such as walnut are scarce or unavailable or as a lower-cost alternative.^[4]

The fruit of the beech tree is known as beechnuts or mast and is found in small burrs that drop from the tree in autumn. It is small, roughly triangular and edible, with a bitter, astringent taste. Fresh from the tree, beech leaves are a fine salad vegetable, as sweet as a mild cabbage though much softer in texture.^[5]

Beech wood tablets were a common writing material in Germanic societies before the development of paper. The Old English bōc^[6] and Old Norse bók^[7] both have the primary sense of “beech” but also a secondary sense of “book”, and it is from bōc that the modern word derives.^[8] In modern German, the word for “book” is Buch, with Buche meaning “beech tree”. In Swedish, these words are the same, bok meaning both “beech tree” and “book”.

The pigment bistre was made from beech wood soot.

As an ornamental[link]

Beech bark with nodules.

The beech most commonly grown as an ornamental tree is the European Beech (Fagus sylvatica), widely cultivated in North America as well as its native Europe. Many varieties are in cultivation, notably the weeping beech F. sylvatica 'Pendula', several varieties of Copper or purple beech, the fern-leaved beech F. sylvatica 'Asplenifolia', and the tricolour beech F. sylvatica 'roseomarginata'. The strikingly columnar Dawyck beech (F. sylvatica 'Dawyck') occurs in green, gold and purple forms, named after Dawyck Garden in the Scottish Borders, one of the four garden sites of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

In Britain and Ireland[link]

European Beech with unusual aerial roots in a wet Scottish Glen.

Beech was a late entrant to Great Britain after the last glaciation, and may have been restricted to basic soils in the south of England.^[9] The beech is classified as a native in the south of England and as a non-native in the north where it is often removed from 'native' woods.^[10] Large areas of the Chilterns are covered with beech woods, which are habitat to the Common Bluebell and other flora. The Cwm Clydach National Nature Reserve in southeast Wales was designated for its beech woodlands which are believed to be on the western edge of their natural range in this steep limestone gorge.^[11]

Beech is not native to Ireland; however, it was widely planted from the 18th century, and can become a problem shading out the native woodland understory. The Friends of the Irish Environment say that the best policy is to remove young, naturally regenerating beech while retaining veteran specimens with biodiversity value.^[12]

There is a campaign by Friends of the Rusland Beeches^[13] and South Lakeland Friends of the Earth^[14] launched in 2007 to reclassify the beech as native in Cumbria.^[15] The campaign is backed by Tim Farron MP who tabled a motion on 3 December 2007 regarding the status of beech in Cumbria.^[16]

Today, beech is widely planted for hedging and in deciduous woodlands, and mature, regenerating stands occur throughout mainland Britain below about 650 m.^[17] The tallest and longest hedge in the world (according to the Guinness World Records) is the Meikleour Beech Hedge in Meikleour, Perth and Kinross, Scotland.

Scandinavia and northern border[link]

The common European beech (Fagus sylvatica) grows naturally in Denmark and southern Sweden up to about the 57:th - 59:th northern latitude. The most northern known naturally growing (not planted) beech trees are found in a few very small forests around the city of Bergen on the southern west coast of Norway with the North Sea nearby. Near the city of Larvik is the largest naturally occurring beech forest in Norway. Planted beeches are grown much further north along the Norwegian coast.

As a naturally growing forest tree, it marks the important border between the European deciduous forest zone and the northern pine forest zone. This border is important for both wildlife and fauna and is a sharp line along the Swedish western coast, which gets broader toward the south. In Denmark and the most southern Swedish county, Skåne, it is the most populous of all forest trees. In Norway, the beech migration very recent, and the species has not reached its distribution potential. Thus, the occurrence of oak in Norway is used as an indicator of the border between the temperate deciduous forest and the boreal spruce - pine forest.

See also[link]

• Beech bark disease
• Beech blight aphid
• English Lowlands beech forests

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fagus

Look up beech in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• "WCSP". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families – Fagus. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/. 
• Beech Tree Collection – Photo Gallery of Beech Trees in The Hamptons, NY
• Flora of China – Fagus
• Flora of North America – Fagus
• Beech Hedging
• Panorama of Beech forest

Rati Agnihotri
Rati Agnihotri at son Tanuj Virwani's Luv U Soniyo Event
Born	Rati Agnihotri (1960-12-10) December 10, 1960 (age 51) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Other names	Rati Virwani
Occupation	Model, Actress
Years active	1979–1981 1983–1985 1988–1990 2001–present
Spouse	Anil Virwani (1985–present)

Rati Agnihotri (Hindi: रति अग्निहोत्रि, Urdu: رتِ اَگنِہوترِ, born 10 December 1960) is a veteran Indian actress. Her portfolio mainly includes films in Hindi-Urdu, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. She was born to a Sikh family.

Film career[link]

Although she came from a traditional, conservative Punjabi family, she was allowed to model at age 10.^[1] When she was a teenager, her father relocated the family to Madras, Tamil Nadu because of his job. There, she attended Good Shepherd's Convent School and acted in a school play. Bharathiraja, one of Tamil film's famous directors, was in the audience and was searching for a heroine to star in his new film. He met with Rati's father and promised the film would wrap in a month. Her father reluctantly agreed, and a sixteen-year-old Rati was very excited to star in her first film, Pudhiya Varpukal (1979).

It was also her hero Bhagyaraj's first film, and he coached her with her lines by teaching her Tamil. The film became a blockbuster, with Rati an overnight sensation. Bharathiraja soon directed her in her second film, Niram Marada Pookkal (1979).^[2] Even though she was Punjabi, South Indian audiences embraced her as one of their own. She reciprocated by calling herself "Tamilian at heart" and calling Madras her home.^[3] She also starred in Telugu and Kannada films and made 32 films in just three years.

She worked with big banners and top stars, such as Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth. Ironically, her entry into Hindi films came from her strong connection to South Indian cinema. She had worked with director K. Balachander once before and had been Kamal Hassan's leading lady in many South Indian films, so she wasn't surprised when they approached her for the Hindi remake of their Telugu blockbuster Maro Charithra (1979). Now re-titled Ek Duje Ke Liye (1981), the film was about passionate lovers who are torn apart by their parents in the storytelling tradition of Romeo and Juliet. It became the top grossing hit of 1981 and marked the debut into Hindi films of five stars of the South Indian film industry: director K. Balachander, hero Kamal Hassan, heroine Rati Agnihotri, supporting actress Madhavi, and playback singer S.P. Balasubramaniam. Although all received Filmfare nominations, only Rati and S.P. Balasubramaniam became top stars in their field. The unforgettable musical score by Laxmikant-Pyarelal rose the film to soaring heights, and there were rumors about how the film's content of tragic lovers inspired real life lovers to take their own lives. Rati's father, who was managing her career, shielded her from the hysteria as she was young.^[4] He effectively kept her starring in only Hindi films after Ek Duje Ke Liye, and she ended the decade starring in over 43 Hindi films. Her biggest hits were Farz Aur Kanoon (1982), Coolie (1983) opposite megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Tawaif (1985) for which she received her second Filmfare nomination as Best Actress, and Hukumat (1987) opposite the Bollywood icon Dharmendra.

End of career[link]

Rati's marriage to businessman and architect Anil Virwani on 9 February 1985,^[5] coupled with her father's death,^[6] convinced Rati to leave Hindi films when she was at the top.^[7] In 1987, she gave birth to her only child, Tanuj Virwani, and she concentrated on raising him and focusing on other creative interests like architectural creations for her husband. She received a degree in Reiki, where she distantly heals people. Even though she retired she would appear at film events looking beautiful and glamorous with continued film offers.

Return[link]

After 16 years of saying no to films, Rati finally said yes realizing that her son is growing up and she had more time for herself. Her family supported her decision. Her comeback started with playing Kajol's glamorous mother in Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (2001). More film offers came in, and she took them, such as Yaadein (2001) and Dev (2004). After a 20-year absence from South Indian films, she returned in the Tamil film Majunu (2001). She made her Malayalam debut in Anyar (2003), English debut in An Ode to Lost Love (2003), and Bengali debut in Aaina-te (2008).^[8] She has acted on stage in plays such as Please Divorce Me Darling (2005) and television serials, such as Sixer (2005). Besides acting, she devotes time to social causes like cancer and AIDS.^[9]

Awards and nominations[link]

• Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress for Ek Duje Ke Liye (1981)
• Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress for Tawaif (1985)^[10]

Trivia[link]

She has acted in ten languages, including, but not limited to Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Punjabi^[11] and English.^[12]

Her cousin is actor-writer-director Atul Agnihotri, and she played a part of a cardiac surgeon in his film Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (2004).

In 2006, Rati and her husband opened a shopping mall called Virwani Plaza in Pune, where one of the stores, Om to Home – Candles and More in the Mall, houses artefacts, exclusive fashion accessories, and candles all personally designed by the actress.

Rati played Nayantara Pratap Singh in a serial named Kaajjal on SET Asia. She recently quit the show because of problems with the production company.

Her sister Anita Agnihotri (Miss India) lives in Szczecin, Poland and owns an Indian restaurant, "Bombay".

Filmography[link]

• Diary Of A Butterfly (2012) .... Shobha
• Chatur Singh Two Star (2011) .... Gulshan Grover's wife
• Bin Bulaye Baraati (2011) .... Koki (commissioner's wife)
• Jaanleva (2010) .... Kiran Jaitley (Post-Production)
• Vardi - The Uniform (2010) (Post-Production)
• Admissions Open (2010) .... Radhika
• Aao Wish Karein (2009)
• Blue Oranges (2009) .... Uma Dixit
• Chal Chalein (2009) .... Navneet Mother
• Luck (2009) .... Ram's Mother
• Hum Phirr Mileinge... (2009) .... Rahul Mother
• Karma Aur Holi (2009) .... Vani
• Phir Kabhi (2009) .... Lakshmi H. Singh
• Love Has No Language (2008) .... Mrs. Roy
• Ru Ba Ru (2008) .... Meera
• Aaina Te (2008) [BENGALI]
• Jimmy (2008) .... Mrs. Pushpa
• Rama Rama Kya Hai Dramaaa (2008) .... Shraddha
• My Wife's Husband (2007)
• Mai Baap (2007)
• Hot Money (2006) .... Sunita Sanyal
• Kaajjal - Sabbki Aankhon Mein Basi (2006/07) [TV Series] .... Nayantara Pratap Singh
• Aisa Kyon Hota Hain (2006) .... Kiran
• Pehchaan: The Face of Truth (2005) .... Uttara D. Khanna
• Socha Na Tha (2005) .... Aditi's aunt
• Ho Jaata Hai Pyaar (2005) .... Asha B. Roy
• Kis Kis Ki Kismat (2004) .... Mrs. Kokila Hasmukh Mehta
• Shukriya: Till Death Do Us Apart (2004) .... Sandhya K. Jindal
• Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (2004) .... Dr. Shashi Rawat
• Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na (2004) .... Meenakshi, Arjun's mum
• Dev (2004) .... Dr. Bharati Singh
• Hum Tum (2004) .... Anju Kapoor, Karan's mother
• Dukaan: Pila House (2004) .... Wahidanbai
• Krishna Cottage (2004) .... Sunita Menon
• Anyar (2003) [MALAYALAM]
• Chupke Se (2003) .... Almera Kochar
• Kaante (2002) .... Major's wife
• Yeh Hai Jalwa (2002) .... Smita Mittal
• Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (2002) .... Maya Esha's Bua/aunt
• Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai (2002) .... Naina's mother
• Kranti (2002) .... Sushma Singh
• Majunu (2001) [TAMIL]
• Yaadein (2001) .... Shalini Singh Puri (Special Appearance)
• Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (2001) .... Archana Khanna
• Jaan-E-Wafa (1990)
• Albela (1989)
• Zalzala (1988) .... Radha Shiv Kumar
• Hukumat (1987)
• Itihaas (1987) .... Shobha
• Dadagiri (1987) .... Deepa (Special Appearance)
• Dil Tujhko Diya (1987) .... Rati
• Mera Suhag (1987)
• Ek Aur Sikander (1986) .... Doctor
• Zindagani (1986) .... Anuradha 'Annu'
• Aap Ke Saath (1986) .... Deepa/Salma
• Babu (1985) .... Pinky
• Bepanaah (1985) .... Bhavna Bhardwaj
• Tawaif (film) (1985) .... Sultana
• Bhawani Junction (1985) .... Shakun
• Dekha Pyar Tumhara (1985) .... Anu
• Ek Se Bhale Do (1985) .... Jenny
• Jaanoo (1985) .... Kanchan
• Karishma Kudrat Kaa (1985) .... Radha (Vijay's sister)
• Triveni (1985)
• Ulta Seedha (1985) .... Shobha Roy
• Zabardast (1985) .... Sunita
• John Jani Janardhan (1984) .... Madhu
• Mashaal (1984) .... Geeta
• All Rounder (1984) .... Ritu
• Boxer (1984) .... Rajni Khatau
• Mera Faisla (1984) .... Rati Verma
• Paapi Pet Ka Sawaal Hai (1984)
• Rakta Bandhan (1984) .... Roopa
• Shrimad Virat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra (1984)
• Coolie (1983) .... Julie D'Costa
• Mujhe Insaaf Chahiye (1983) .... Malati
• Main Awara Hoon (1983) .... Archana G. Prasad
• Mazdoor (1983) .... Smita Batra/Smita Ramesh Saxena
• Pasand Apni Apni (1983) .... Geeta
• Rishta Kagaz Ka (1983) .... Aarti A. Sharma
• Shubh Kaamna (1983) .... Sujata
• Star (1982) .... Maya
• Waqt Ke Shehzade (1982)
• Ayaash (1982) .... Mrs. Jaswant Singh
• Farz Aur Kanoon (1982)
• Johny I Love You (1982) .... Seema
• Kaliyuga Ramudu (1982) .... Sandhya
• Sumbandh (1982) .... Kiran H. Mathur
• Swami Dada (1982) .... Seema
• Shaukeen (1982) .... Anita
• Sahhas (1981) .... Radha V. Singh
• Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981) .... Sapna
• Tirugu Leni Manishi (1981)
• Do Dil Diwane (1981)
• Jeene Ki Arzoo (1981)
• Satyam Shivam (1981) .... Rekha
• Bhogimanthulu (1981)
• Jagamondi (1981)
• Jeevitha Ratham (1981)
• Kazhugu (1981) [TAMIL]
• Prema Pichchi (1981)
• Murattu Kaalai (1980) [TAMIL]
• Maayadhaari Krishnudu (1980)
• Kalinga (1980) [KANNADA]
• Punnami Naagu (1980)
• Anbukku Naan Adimai (1980)
• Murattu Kaalai (1980) .... Kannamma
• Ullasa Paravaigal (1980)
• Andala Raasi (1980)
• Niram Maaratha Pookkal (1979)
• Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979) .... Jyothi

References[link]

External links[link]

• Rati Agnihotri at the Internet Movie Database
• Rati Agnihotri's Profile