Nothofagus fusca

Nothofagus fusca, commonly known as red beech (Māori: tawhai raunui) is a species of southern beech, endemic to New Zealand, where it occurs on both the North Island and South Island. Generally it is found on lower hills and inland valley floors where soil is fertile and well drained.[1] In New Zealand the species is called Fuscospora fusca.[2]

Nothofagus fusca
Tree
Foliage
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Nothofagaceae
Genus: Nothofagus
Species:
N. fusca
Binomial name
Nothofagus fusca
Synonyms

Fuscospora fusca (Hook.f.) Heenan & Smissen
Fagus fusca

It is a medium-sized evergreen tree growing to 35 m tall. The leaves are alternately arranged, broad ovoid, 2 to 4 cm long and 1.5 to 3 cm broad, the margin distinctively double-toothed with each lobe bearing two teeth. The fruit is a small cupule containing three seeds.

Pollen from the tree was found near the Antarctic Peninsula showing that it formerly grew in Antarctica since the Eocene period.[3]

Red beech is not currently considered threatened.[4]

Uses

Red beech is the only known plant source, apart from rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), of the C-linked dihydrochalcone glycoside nothofagin.[5][6]

It is also grown as an ornamental tree in regions with a mild oceanic climate due to its attractive leaf shape. It has been planted in Scotland[7] and the North Coast of the Pacific of the United States.[8] The red beech's wood is the most durable of all the New Zealand beeches.[9] It was often used in flooring in many parts of New Zealand.[10] The timber is exceptionally stable when dried to appropriate moisture values.[10] The average density of red beech at 12 percent moisture content is 630 kilograms per cubic metre.[11]

Red beech flooring in Nelson, New Zealand

Hybrids

References
  1. "Beech forest". Department of Conservation. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  2. HEENAN, PETER B.; SMISSEN, ROB D. (2013). "Revised circumscription of Nothofagus and recognition of the segregate genera Fuscospora, Lophozonia, and Trisyngyne (Nothofagaceae)". Phytotaxa. 146 (1): 131. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.146.1.1. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  3. Rice University (27 June 2011). "Fossilized pollen reveals climate history of northern Antarctica". Physorg. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  4. "Fuscospora fusca". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  5. Hillis W, Inoue T (1967). "The polyphenols of Nothofagus species - II. The heartwood of Nothofagus fusca". Phytochemistry. 6: 59–67. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(67)85008-8.
  6. Bramati L, et al. (2002). "Quantitative Characterization of Flavonoid Compounds in Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus Linearis) by LC-UV/DAD". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Elsevier. 50 (20): 5513–5519. doi:10.1021/jf025697h. PMID 12236672.
  7. "Planted and required trees in the Gardens of The Grange, Edinburgh, Scotland" (PDF). The Grange Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  8. "Nothofagus fusca in Washington Park Arboretum" (PDF). Seattle Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-24. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  9. Salmon, J.T. (1993). The Native Trees of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Books. ISBN 0-7900-0558-1.
  10. "Farm Forestry timbers - Red Beech Nothofagus fusca". www.nzffa.org.nz. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  11. Clifton, Norman (1990). New Zealand Timbers. Exotic and Indigenous. The complete guide. Upper Hutt, New Zealand: Wright & Carman Ltd.
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