Nothofagus antarctica
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Nothofagus antarctica
Nothofagus antarctica, foliage
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fagales Family: Nothofagaceae Genus: Nothofagus Species: N. antarctica
Binomial name
Nothofagus antarctica (Forster) Oerst.

N. antarctica in Torres del Paine National Park

Nothofagus antarctica (Antarctic Beech; in Spanish Ñire or Ñirre), is a deciduous tree or shrub native to southern Chile and Argentina from about 36°S latitude south to Tierra del Fuego (56° S). The southernmost occurrence is on Hoste Island, making it the southernmost trees on earth. It grows mainly in the diminishing temperate rainforests.

It typically grows 10-25 m (32-80 ft) tall and has a slender trunk with attractive scaly bark. The leaves are simple and alternate, growing 2-4.5 cm long, and often viscid, with a sweetly scented wax. The leaf color is medium green, becoming yellow to orange in the fall. They are broadly ovate to triangular, crinkly, rounded at the tips, irregularly and minutely toothed. The flowers are inconspicuous yellow-green catkins. The fruit is a 6 mm, very fragrant 4-valved capsule containing three small nuts.

It has been introduced in the North Pacific Coast of the United States¹. It has been planted in Great Britain and does very well in that country. Trees planted in Faroe Islands, which were imported directly from its southernmost distribution in Tierra del Fuego, have shown a good hardiness.² .

Nothofagus moorei, found in Australia, is also referred to as "Antarctic Beech".

References and external links

• Donoso, C. 2005. Árboles nativos de Chile. Guía de reconocimiento. Edición 4. Marisa Cuneo Ediciones, Valdivia, Chile. 136p.
• Hoffmann, Adriana. 1998. Flora Silvestre de Chile, Zona Central. Edición 4. Fundación Claudio Gay, Santiago. 254p.
• Rodríguez, R. & Quezada, M. 2003. Fagaceae. En C. Marticorena y R. Rodríguez [eds.], Flora de Chile Vol. 2(2), pp 64-76. Universidad de Concepción, Concepción.

• [1] [2] [3] [4] Photos
• Nothofagus antarctica in Encyclopedia of Chilean Flora
• Nothofagus antarctica pictures and information from Chile bosque
• Nothofagus antarctica, Description and images from "ChileFlora"
• Nothofagus antarctica at Crarae Gardens, Scotland

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