Nothofagus gunnii

(Fagus, Southern Beech, Tanglefoot Beech, Gunn's Beech)

This tree is a winter-deciduous tree that's only found in Tasmania's high country. It's barely a tree, though, as it is more often seen as a scrambling shrub and generally doesn't grow much beyond 2 metres in height. Incidentally, the alternative common name of Tanglefoot is because of its ability to catch bushwalkers in its twisted and often ground-hugging branches!

The leaves are roundish, with prominent veins and toothed edges that are also rounded, as can be seen in the top photograph, kindly supplied by Dr Elspeth McKay.

It is found naturally only in remote, wet highland areas in Tasmania but it has relatives on the mainland. Nothofagus cunninghamii (Myrtle Beech) is found in Tasmania and Victoria, and Nothofagus moorei (Antarctic Beech), which grows to a stately 30 metres, is found in northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland. Both of these species are evergreen.

During autumn and this usually means by the end of April, the foliage of N. gunnii begins its amazing autumnal display, with foliage colours ranging from rust red through to bright gold. It's a brilliant site on Cradle Mountain at that time of the year. The photograph at top gives a glimpse of some of the foliage colour range (image courtesy of Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania). The brilliant photograph here shows how spectacular it looks en masse in the wild at Tarn Shelf in the Mount Field National Park (image courtesy of Australian National Botanic Gardens).

Gondwanan Links

Interestingly, it is the distribution of Nothofagus species that first suggested to scientists that Antarctica, South America, Africa, New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea, Arabia and the Indian subcontinent were once joined. This great combined landmass, known as Gondwana, existed over 100 million years ago. It gradually split apart and Australia drifted northward.

Losing leaves in winter is of course a response to long dark winters, so as Australia drifted northward, it became a drier, sunnier place and different flora took over. Hence Fagus is now only found in the remote wet highlands of Tasmania.

Fossilised plant fragments found in Antarctica resemble Fagus, and one of its closest living relatives is N. pumilio which is found in South America.

Cultivation

It prefers cool, damp places and moderately rich and well-drained acid soil. It also needs shelter from wind. Fagus will grow in warmer climates as long as summers are cool. And it will require regular watering until established.

Plants are often available from native nurseries. They can be grown from fresh seed in autumn, from hardwood cuttings taken in summer, and can also be propagated by layering.

Information sources:

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/factsheets/plants/Fagus.pdf (This is a very useful pdf explaining where the best places are to see Fagus in the Tasmanian highlands, and how to get there!)
ABC Gardening Australia, Flora's Native Plants, 2004, published by ABC Books.
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/veg/fagus/fagus.html
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania website

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