Beech
Fagus sylvatica
Thin strips of beech where used in anglo-Saxon times to carve runes into, this could explain the name of the tree in old English, which is Boc also meaning book. Rune lots for divination may have also been made from the tree's branches. Folklore has it that snakes fear this tree, and that it can ward off lightning. The beech tree was said to be a safe place for travellers to shelter beneath.
For medicinal purposes the leaves were chewed for chapped lips, and in a decoction, they were used to treat cold sores. Beech tar has been used to treat skin diseases.