About Nothofagus cliffortioides (Hook.f.) Oerst.
Nothofagus cliffortioides, with the common name mountain beech, known as tawhai rauriki in Māori, is a southern beech tree species endemic to New Zealand. This taxon is called Fuscospora cliffortioides within New Zealand. Mountain beech grows in mountainous regions at high elevations. It occupies a wider range of habitat than any other tree species native to New Zealand, which corresponds to a wide range of variation in its life form, seeding habits, regenerative patterns, growth habits, growth rates, stand replacement, and mortality patterns. This tree typically grows to around 20 metres (66 ft) tall, but near the treeline it forms a low-growing "goblin forest" where individual trees reach no more than 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall. It has elongated leaves with pointed ends. Ecologically, mountain beech is eaten by the mountain beech flat moth (Proteodes carnifex). It also acts as a host plant for the lichens Yarrumia colensoi and Podostictina degelii, and the fungi Annulohypoxylon bovei and Rossbeevera pachydermis.
