Nothofagus fusca explained

Nothofagus fusca, commonly known as red beech (Māori: tawhai raunui) is a species of southern beech, endemic to New Zealand, occurring on both the North and South Island. It is generally 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]

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. The average density of red beech at 12 percent moisture content is 630 kilograms per cubic metre.^[11]

Hybrids

• Red beech hybridises with mountain beech (Nothofagus cliffortioides) to form the hybrid species Nothofagus ×blairii.
• Red beech hybridises with black beech (Nothofagus solandri) to form the hybrid species Nothofagus ×dubia.
• Red beech hybridises with the ruil tree (Nothofagus alessandrii) from Chile to form the hybrid species Nothofagus ×eugenananus.

External links

• • • University of Waikato: Nothofagus
• New Zealand School of Forestry: Nothofagus fusca photo

Notes and References

1. Web site: Beech forest. Department of Conservation. 2010-04-28.
2. HEENAN. PETER B.. SMISSEN. ROB D.. Revised circumscription of Nothofagus and recognition of the segregate genera Fuscospora, Lophozonia, and Trisyngyne (Nothofagaceae). Phytotaxa. 2013. 146. 1. 131. 10.11646/phytotaxa.146.1.1. 31 May 2015.
3. Web site: Fossilized pollen reveals climate history of northern Antarctica. Rice University. 27 June 2011. Physorg. 28 June 2011.
4. Web site: Fuscospora fusca. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. 7 June 2015.
5. Hillis W, Inoue T . The polyphenols of Nothofagus species - II. The heartwood of Nothofagus fusca . . 6 . 59–67 . 1967 . 1 . 10.1016/0031-9422(67)85008-8. 1967PChem...6...59H .
6. Bramati L, etal . Quantitative Characterization of Flavonoid Compounds in Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus Linearis) by LC-UV/DAD . Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry . 50 . 5513–5519 . Elsevier . 2002 . 10.1021/jf025697h . 12236672 . 20.
7. Web site: Planted and required trees in the Gardens of The Grange, Edinburgh, Scotland . The Grange Association . 2009-06-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090107044139/http://www.grangeassociation.org/product/100.pdf . 2009-01-07 .
8. Web site: Nothofagus fusca in Washington Park Arboretum . Seattle Government . 2009-06-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090324233535/http://www.seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/ArboretumReport.pdf . 2009-03-24 .
9. Book: Salmon, J.T.. The Native Trees of New Zealand. 1993. Reed Books. Auckland, New Zealand . 0-7900-0558-1.
10. Web site: Farm Forestry timbers - Red Beech Nothofagus fusca. www.nzffa.org.nz. 2019-05-17.
11. Book: Clifton, Norman. New Zealand Timbers. Exotic and Indigenous. The complete guide. 1990. Wright & Carman Ltd.. Upper Hutt, New Zealand.