Nothofagus, also known as the southern beeches, is a genus of 43 species of trees and shrubs native to the Southern Hemisphere in southern South America and east and southeast Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and New Caledonia. The species are ecological dominants in many temperate forests in these regions. Some species are reportedly naturalised in Germany and Great Britain. The genus has a rich fossil record of leaves, cupules, and pollen, with fossils extending into the late Cretaceous period and occurring in Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, and South America.
Nothofagus menziesii, commonly known as silver beech, is a tree of the southern beech family endemic to New Zealand. Its common name probably comes from the fact that its bark is whitish in colour, particularly in younger specimens. It is found from Thames southwards in the North Island, and throughout the South Island. Silver beech is a forest tree up to 30 m tall. The trunk, which is often buttressed, may be up to 2 m in diameter. The leaves are small, thick and almost round in shape, 6 to 15 mm long and 5 to 15 mm wide with rounded teeth which usually occur in pairs, 1 or 2 hair fringed domatia are found on the underside of each leaf. Its Māori name is tawhai. It grows from low altitudes to the mountains. Nothofagus menziesii was proposed to be renamed Lophozonia menziesii in 2013.
Nothofagus solandri, commonly called black beech, is species of tree endemic to New Zealand. Black beech occurs on both the North and the South Island at low elevations up to the mountains. It is also known as Nothofagus solandri var.solandri. In New Zealand the taxon is often called Fuscospora solandri.
Nothofagus discoidea is a species of plant in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to New Caledonia.
Nothofagus nuda is a species of plant in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Nothofagus stylosa is a species of plant in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to West Papua (Indonesia). It is a Critically Endangered species threatened by habitat loss.
Nothofagus womersleyi is a species of plant in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to Kebar Valley on the Vogelkop Peninsula in West Papua (Indonesia). It is a Critically Endangered species threatened by habitat loss.
Nothofagus brassii is a species of tree in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to New Guinea. It is commonly known as Sagé, sagé hitam, sahé, and kayu sagé, kayu sagé hitam (Indonesian).
Nothofagus carrii is a species of tree in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to New Guinea.
Nothofagus flaviramea is a species of tree in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to New Guinea.
Nothofagus grandis is a species of tree in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to New Guinea. It grows in lower montane rain forests from 900 to 1,500 meters elevation.
Nothofagus perryi is a species of tree in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea. It grows in montane rain forests from 1,500 to 2,500 meters elevation in central and southeastern Papua New Guinea.
Nothofagus pseudoresinosa is a species of tree in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea. It grows in montane rain forests from 2,500 to 2,750 meters elevation in central and southeastern Papua New Guinea.
Nothofagus pullei is a species of tree in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to New Guinea. It grows in montane rain forests from 2,350 to 3,200 meters elevation.
Nothofagus resinosa is a species of tree in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to New Guinea. It grows in montane rain forests at around 1,560 meters elevation.
Nothofagus rubra is a species of tree in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to New Guinea. It grows in montane rain forests.
Nothofagus starkenborghiorum is a species of tree in the family Nothofagaceae. It is native to New Guinea and New Britain. It grows in montane rain forests, and occasionally in lowland rain forests.
Nothofagus aequilateralis is a species of tree in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to New Caledonia. It grows in the southern end of the island from 160 to 1,150 meters elevation, often on ridge tops.
Nothofagus balansae is a species of tree in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to New Caledonia. It grows in the southern and central portions of the island from 200 to 1,350 meters elevation.
Nothofagus codonandra is a species of tree in the family Nothofagaceae. It is endemic to New Caledonia. It grows in the southern and central portions of the island above 150 meters elevation.
