Beech

Beech (Nothofagus)

Southern beech is a term used to refer to beech species native to southern hemisphere countries including New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, New Guinea and countries in South America. Nothofagus, the scientific name, means false beech in recognition of the fact that they were earlier thought to be species of true northern hemisphere beech (Fagus). Nothofagus fusca (red beach, left) and Nothofagus truncata (hard beech, right). Photos by Jeremy Rolfe.
 
There are 4 species and one sub-species of beech tree in New Zealand:
All these beech trees are broadleaf and evergreen. The beech's dry, nut-like seeds are spread by the wind. For more information about beech trees see the Beech forest area of this website.
 
For more information about beech trees see*:
  • Southern beech forest(Te Ara - Encyclopedia of NZ)
  • Southern beeches by A.L. Poole. Wellington: Science Information Publishing Centre, DSIR, 1987.
  • The ecology and biogeography of Nothofagus forests edited by Thomas Veblen. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996
  • The New Zealand beeches by John Wardle, Wellington: New Zealand Forest Service, 1984.
  • Native beech forests (DOC website)
  • Beech forest fact sheet(DOC website)
  • Beech forest regeneration by John Dawson (From Forest Vines to Snow Tussocks)
*The Network is not responsible for the content of external internet sites   

 

This page last updated on 23 Sep 2012