Nothofagus antarctica

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Nothofagus antarctica
Nothofagus antarctica, shoot with leaves
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fagales Family: Nothofagaceae Genus: Nothofagus Species: N. antarctica
Binomial name
Nothofagus antarctica (Forster) Oerst.

Nothofagus antarctica (Antarctic Beech; in Spanish Ñire), is a deciduous tree or shrub native to southern Chile and Argentina from about 36°S latitude south to Tierra del Fuego. It grows mainly in the diminishing temperate rainforests.

It typically grows 10-25 m tall and has a slender trunk with attractive scaly bark. The leaves are simple and alternate, growing 2-4.5 cm long, and often viscid, with a sweetly scented wax. The leaf color is medium green, becoming yellow to orange in the fall. They are broadly ovate to triangular, crinkly, rounded at the tips, irregularly and minutely toothed. The flowers are inconspicuous yellow-green catkins. The fruit is a 6 mm, very fragrant 4-valved capsule containing three small nuts.

Nothofagus moorei, found in Australia, is also referred to as "Antarctic Beech".

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