Nothofagus

Mount Aspiring National Park on the west of the South Island is an area of mountains, rivers, and lakes. Pure forests of southern beech Nothofagus, such as this, are common in the foothills of the Southern Alps.

Genus of broad-leaved and evergreen trees of the same family (Fagaceae) as beech. There are about 35 species, all native to the southern hemisphere. They have small, oval leaves with finely toothed edges; their fruits are small, bristly husks, similar to those of beech. They are important timber trees, having hard timber like beech, used in building and furniture making.

Deciduous species include the South American roble beech N. obliqua, which grows to 35 m/115 ft, and Antarctic beech N. antarctica, which grows to 15 m/50 ft. Evergreen species include the Australian myrtle beech N. cunninghami and the New Zealand black beech N. solandri, which forms huge forests of trees that can grow to 25 m/80 ft.