Probably the same as the trees in the background. Can you identify the fallen leaves?

My guess would be beech (Fagus grandifolia).

Could make better guesses with more of the tree showing, beyond just the damaged section.

I think it's unquestionably American Beech - Fagus grandifolia.

@porkpal - I took the photo on a winter hike, so i don't have any good close-up photos of any fallen leaves. I should have thought of doing that, but I just thought "oh look at the awesome rotten tree!"

HOWEVER, I did take this one:


@stone and @ViburnumValley -- I looked up Fagus grandifolia in the data base - and saw 2 photos of younger ones that kept their leaves all the winter -- and I can say that those same small young trees with leaves (see photo below) were all around this big rotted one.

There is clearly another large healthy American Beech in the background (to the right) of the image of the rotted tree.

In unmolested woodlands/forest like you've shown, it is just as might be anticipated that you'd see younger trees coming on, as offspring of the older trees.

It is also not uncommon for some of these younger trunks to be sprouts from the root systems of bigger trees. That's a survival mechanism when trees are damaged - such as the one you've shown.

ah. Thanks John. I am not Beech savvy at all - mostly just know Oaks and Maples. I have always wondered what those small ones were since I like how they kept their leaves all winter - this particular park seems loaded with them.

I don't know which park you were hiking in, but central Ohio is good stomping grounds for American Beech. The smooth gray bark is the easy giveaway, and the marcescent (persistent) old leaves are another.

This species is a staple item of the Beech-Maple forest complex. There are outstanding examples here in KY as well, most notably Iroquois Park here in Louisville.

ViburnumValley said:I don't know which park you were hiking in, but central Ohio is good stomping grounds for American Beech. The smooth gray bark is the easy giveaway, and the marcescent (persistent) old leaves are another. This species is a staple item of the Beech-Maple forest complex. There are outstanding examples here in KY as well, most notably Iroquois Park here in Louisville.

Thanks for the info - I am learning! This was in Slate Run Metro Park, Columbus OH. This park has some steep hilly woody ravine areas, and then also a living historical farm on flatlands - I chose the woody, ravine, steep hill trail (and thought I might die of a heart attack! ) area to hike. The signs said it used to be Wyandotte? or Shawnee? hunting grounds, but settlers had lumbered many of the trees many years ago, but that they had been allowed to grow back.

Been to a few of the Columbus-area Metroparks, most recently at a bike summit meeting last May - but not Slate Run.

No heart attacks allowed while enjoying such beautiful environs, especially when there's winery right across the street. Would that more recreational pursuits be so serendipitously co-located!

Hope you continue to find more interesting plants on your jaunts.