Fagus sinensis

A slow-growing deciduous tree - to around 25m in height. The bark is smooth silver-grey. Its leaves (and its nuts), as its name suggests, have long stalks. They are green above and paler on their lower surface and the long stems allow them to twist, showing both colours. Turning dark yellow, they are joined by the inconspicuous flowers as they become small, bristly-cased nuts in autumn.