Nothofagus fusca
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Nothofagus fusca

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fagales
Family: Nothofagaceae
Genus: Nothofagus
Species: N. fusca
Binomial name
Nothofagus fusca
(Hook.f.) Oerst.

Nothofagus fusca (New Zealand Red Beech) is a species of Nothofagus, endemic to New Zealand, where it occurs on both North Island and South Island. It occurs to low altitudes to the mountains.

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.

Uses

It is the only known plant source, apart from Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), of the C-linked dihydrochalcone glycoside nothofagin.12

It is also grown as an ornamental tree in regions with a mild oceanic climate due to its attractive leaf shape. It has been introduced in Scotland.3 and the North Coast of the Pacific of the United States4 The red beech's wood is the most durable of all the New Zealand beeches5 it was often used in flooring in many parts of New Zealand. 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.6

Red beech flooring in Nelson, New Zealand

References

  1. ^ Hillis W, Inoue T (1967). "The polyphenols of Nothofagus species - II. The heartwood of Nothofagus fusca". Phytochemistry 6: 59–67. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(67)85008-8. 
  2. ^ Bramati L et al. (2002). "Quantitative Characterization of Flavonoid Compounds in Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus Linearis) by LC-UV/DAD". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (Elsevier) 50: 5513–5519. doi:10.1021/jf025697h. 
  3. ^ "Planted and required trees in the Gardens of The Grange, Edinburgh, Scotland".
  4. ^ "Nothofagus fusca in Washington Park Arboretum".
  5. ^ Salmon, J.T. (1993). The Native Trees of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Books. 
  6. ^ Clifton, Norman (1990). New Zealand Timbers. Exotic and Indigenous. The complete guide. Upper Hutt, New Zealand: Wright & Carman Ltd.. 

External links

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