Nothofagus cliffortioides explained

Nothofagus cliffortioides, commonly called mountain beech (Maori: tawhai rauriki), is a species of Southern beech tree and is endemic to New Zealand. Mountain beech grows in mountainous regions at high elevations. In New Zealand the taxon is called Fuscospora cliffortioides.^{[1] [2]} Nothofagus cliffortioides occupies a wider range of habitat than any other New Zealand tree species and it shows a corresponding range of life form, seeding habits, regenerative patterns, growth habits, growth rates, stand replacement and mortality patterns.^[3]

Mountain beech grows to around ^[4] but near the treeline forms a "goblin forest" where the trees are no more than tall. It also has leaves that are elongated and have a pointed end.

Ecology

Mountain beech is eaten by the mountain beech flat moth (Proteodes carnifex), and is a host plant for the lichens Yarrumia colensoi and Podostictina degelii, and the fungi Annulohypoxylon bovei Rossbeevera pachydermis.^[5]

Hybrids

• Mountain beech is known to hybridise with black beech (Nothofagus solandri) where the two species co-exist, and in some places the hybrids may form complex introgressive hybrid swarms.^[6]
• Mountain beech also hybridises with red beech (Nothofagus fusca) to form the hybrid species Nothofagus × blairii.

External links

• University of Waikato: Nothofagus

Notes and References

1. 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. free.
2. Web site: Fuscospora cliffortioides (Hook.f.) Heenan & Smissen. Flora of New Zealand. Landcare Research 2010-2015. 15 January 2016.
3. Book: Ecology of Nothofagus solandri (Black beech and mountain beech). John Wardle. 1969. University of Canterbury. Botany. 706454567.
4. Web site: Mountain Beech Height. Details of our range of Beech variety. Southern Woods Nursery Ltd.
5. Web site: Hogan. C. Michael . Nothofagus cliffortioides (Hook. fil.) Oerst.. Encyclopedia of Life. 21 April 2023.
6. Web site: Fuscospora cliffortioides. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. 31 May 2015.