Back to homepage
Questions? AskAuckland
  

Please select root levels for the menu

NZ Plants

Fuscospora cliffortioides - tawhai, tawai, mountain beech

Southern beech family: Nothofagaceae

Fuscospora cliffortioides is a tree with smooth bark and small ovate-triangular dark green leaves. Branches on young trees have a tendency to be horizontal giving the foliage a layered effect. Formerly Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides. There are four species of Fuscospora in New Zealand and an additional three are found in southern South America and Tasmania.
An endemic species found at higher elevations from the middle of the North Island to sea level on the South Island.
 

Vegetative characteristics

Reproductive characteristics

Plant form: tree up to 20 m

Arrangement of parts: symmetric

Leaf form: undivided, oval to triangular to elliptic

Flower size: 2-3 mm diam.

Leaf size: 10-15 mm

Tepals (sepals indistinguishable from petals): 5

Leaf arrangement: singly along stem

Sexuality: unisexual on the same plant

Leaf attachment: stipule

Stamens: 8-14

Leaf margin: smooth

Ovary: below petals

Leaf surface: hairs

Fruit: dry


Share Print Email