FAGUS, the BEECH, in botany, a genus of the monœcia polyandria class. The calix of the male is bell-shaped, and consists of five segments; it has no corolla, but twelve stamens: the calix of the female consists of four teeth; it has no corolla; the style is three; and the capsule is muricated, has four cells and two seeds. There are three species, two of them natives of Britain, viz. the castanea, or chestnut-tree; and the sylvatica, or beech-tree.
FAINTING.