Nothofagus cliffortioides
Mountain beech trees
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Nothofagaceae
Genus: Nothofagus
Subgenus: Nothofagus subg. Fuscospora
Species:
N. cliffortioides
Binomial name
Nothofagus cliffortioides
Synonyms[2]
  • Fagus cliffortioides Hook.f. (1844)
  • Fuscospora cliffortioides (Hook.f.) Heenan & Smissen (2013)
  • Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides (Hook.f.) Poole (1963)

Nothofagus cliffortioides, commonly called mountain beech (Māori: 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.[3][4] 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.[5]

Mountain beech grows to around 20 metres (66 ft)[6] but near the treeline forms a "goblin forest" where the trees are no more than 2 m (6 ft 7 in) 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.[7]

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.[8]
  • Mountain beech also hybridises with red beech (Nothofagus fusca) to form the hybrid species Nothofagus × blairii.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Baldwin, H., Barstow, M. & Rivers, M.C. 2018. Nothofagus cliffortioides. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T96477403A96479960. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T96477403A96479960.en. Accessed 21 April 2023.
  2. ↑ Nothofagus cliffortioides (Hook.f.) Oerst. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  3. 1 2 Heenan, Peter B.; Smissen, Rob D. (2013). "Revised circumscription of Nothofagus and recognition of the segregate genera Fuscospora, Lophozonia, and Trisyngyne (Nothofagaceae)". Phytotaxa. 146 (1): 131. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.146.1.1. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Fuscospora cliffortioides (Hook.f.) Heenan & Smissen". Flora of New Zealand. Landcare Research 2010-2015. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  5. ↑ John Wardle (1969). Ecology of Nothofagus solandri (Black beech and mountain beech). University of Canterbury. Botany. OCLC 706454567.
  6. ↑ "Mountain Beech Height". Details of our range of Beech variety. Southern Woods Nursery Ltd.
  7. ↑ Hogan, C. Michael (ed.). "Nothofagus cliffortioides (Hook. fil.) Oerst". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  8. ↑ "Fuscospora cliffortioides". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
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