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
Line notes
- ^ Flora of New Zealand. 2007
- ^ John Dawson and R. Lucas. 2000
- ^ C. Michael Hogan. 2009
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