About Nothofagus truncata (Colenso) Cockayne
Nothofagus truncata (Colenso) Cockayne has coriaceous, hairless, broadly ovate leaves that measure 2.5 to 4 cm (1.0 to 1.6 inches) long, with 8 to 12 pairs of coarse, blunt teeth. Its bark ranges from slate to dark grey, and is thick and furrowed. Male flowers are tiny, red, bell-shaped, and produced in large quantities. Female flowers are green with brown tips, and grow in groups of three on short stalks in the leaf axils. In forest ecosystems where this species grows, the understorey can host a variety of ferns and other understory vegetation. Crown fern and drooping spleenwort are characteristic understory elements associated with N. truncata forests. The bark of Nothofagus truncata has a high tannin content, and has been traditionally used to tan leather. The timber is red when freshly cut, and fades to pale brown as it dries. It has been used for bridge construction, poles, fencing posts, and railway sleepers. The wood has a fine straight grain and an even texture, making it suitable for joinery, flooring, decking, and cabinet making.
