Epping Forest Act, have now grown massive crowns of thick, trunk-like branches with correspondingly large boles. This gives the trees an unusual appearance, not known in other forests. Often the weight of the branches cannot be supported by the parent tree, and the large amount of dead wood in the forest supports numerous rare species of fungi and invertebrates. Predominant tree species are Pedunculate oak ("Quercus robur"), European beech ("Fagus sylvatica"), European hornbeam ("Carpinus betuloides"), silver birch ("Betula pendula") and European holly ("Ilex aquifolium"). Indicator species of long-uninterrupted woodland include service-tree ("Sorbus torminalis") butcher's-broom ("Ruscus aculeatus") and drooping sedge ("Carex pendula") A
Nyssa sylvatica long stalk and a rich source or nectar for bees. They are often dioecious so a male and female tree in proximity is required to set seed, however, many trees are also polygamo-dioecious, which means they have both male and female flowers on the same tree. The fruit is a black-blue, ovoid stone fruit, about 10 mm long with a thin, oily, bitter-to-sour tasting flesh and very popular with small bird species. There are from one to three fruits together on a long slender stalk. They are a valuable energy food for birds, especially the American robin. "Nyssa sylvatica" forms