EN
The paper presents the inventory of place names (toponyms) connected to European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). This tree species reaches its eastern distribution limit in Poland and covers around 5.9% of forest area in the country. Due to the fact that its occurrence depends mostly on climatic conditions it is present on the west, north and south, but not in the central and eastern part of Poland. The aim of this study was to compare, using geographic information system (GIS) tools, spatial distribution of toponyms derived from the core ‘buk’ (i.e. beech in Polish) with present occurrence of this tree known from botanical studies, and its natural limits described in the literature. Thanks to National Register of Geographical Names 1314 topographic objects names derived from beech were determined and classified into several groups of origin. Around 38% of phyto−toponyms are names of settlements or their parts. The results of spatial analysis of this objects show great similarity with present day distribution of this species in Poland. As much as 75% of them are located within the area presently covered with Fagus sylvatica (according to European Forest Genetic Resources Program) and around 92% within its range limit. Some regions where the density of phyto−toponyms is quite high and which nowadays are covered by other species than beech were also delimited (e.g. Dalkowskie Hills or Bytów Lakeland). This results suggest that European beech may be the natural representative of local dendroflora, but due to the changes in land cover it was replaced by other species. This hypothesis seems to be confirmed by palaeoecological studies. Huge similarity of distribution of toponyms derived from beech and distribution of this tree known from the literature shows that this method have a great potential as a reliable, simple and cheap proxy in studies on the spatial range of the species.