Nothofagus antarctica
Common name: 
Southern Beech
False Beech
Nirre
Nire
Pronunciation: 
no-thoh-FAH-gus an-TARK-ti-ka
Family: 
Fagaceae
Genus: 
Nothofagus
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous tree, open, or a dense shrub in exposed sites, 40-50 ft (12-15 m) tall, slender trunk, scaly attractive bark.  Leaves simple, alternate, 1.3-4 cm long, broadly ovate to triangular, crinkly, rounded at tip, irregularly and minutely toothed, medium green, yellow fall color (at best).  Flowers are inconspicuous yellow-green catkins. Fruit is 6 mm long, very fragrant 4-valved capsule containing three small nuts.
  • Sun, prefers acid loam, tolerates wind and drought when established.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone (7)8     Native to South America, Cape Horn into the Andes.  Besides a medium-sized tree, there is also a dwarfish form.  A form with more upright-growing branches was selected at the Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle, and named 'Puget Piller'.
  • Nothofagus: from nothos, false, and fagus, beech.    antarctica: of Antarctic regions.
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: east of the south entrance to Dearborn
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  • plant habit, in native habitat (southern Chile)

    plant habit, in native habitat (southern Chile)

  • plant habit, young and older tree

    plant habit, young and older tree

  • shoot arrangement

    shoot arrangement

  • foliage and leaves

    foliage and leaves

  • leaves

    leaves

  • leaf surfaces and margin

    leaf surfaces and margin

  • plant habit and leaves, fall

    plant habit and leaves, fall

  • plant habit and branches, winter

    plant habit and branches, winter

  • winter twigs and buds

    winter twigs and buds

  • trunk, bark

    trunk, bark