Nothofagus truncata

Hard Beech
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fagales
Family:	Nothofagaceae
Genus:	Nothofagus
Species:	N. truncata
Binomial name
Nothofagus truncata (Colenso) Cockayne

Nothofagus truncata or Hard Beech is a species of tree endemic to New Zealand.^[1] Its common name derives from the fact that its wood has a high silica content, making it hard and difficult to saw.^[2] Hard Beech is a tree up to 30m tall occurring in lowland and lower montane forest from lat. 35°S to 42°30'S, that is, from the north of the North Island to Marlborough and south Westland in the South Island. The understory of forests populated by N. truncata may contain a variety of ferns and other understory vegetation; characteristic understory elements may include Crown Fern and Drooping Spleenwort.^[3]

Morphology

The coriaceous, broadly ovate leaves range from 2.5 to 4 cm long, and have from 8 to 12 pairs of coarse blunt teeth. The slate to dark grey bark is thick and furrowed.

References

• John Dawson and R. Lucas. 2000. The Nature Guide to the New Zealand Forest, Godwit Publishing
• Flora of New Zealand. 2007. Nothofagus truncata. Accessed 2010-10-04.
• C. Michael Hogan. 2009. Crown Fern: Blechnum discolor, Globaltwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg
• New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, URL:Nothofagus truncata. Accessed 2010-10-04.

Line notes

1. ^ Flora of New Zealand. 2007
2. ^ John Dawson and R. Lucas. 2000
3. ^ C. Michael Hogan. 2009