| Nothofagus betuloides | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fagales |
| Family: | Nothofagaceae |
| Genus: | Nothofagus |
| Species: | N. betuloides |
| Binomial name | |
| Nothofagus betuloides (Mirb.) Blume |
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Nothofagus betuloides, the Magellan's beech and is sometimes known by the common name guindo, is native to southern Patagonia.
In 1769 Sir Joseph Banks collected a specimen of the tree in Tierra del Fuego during Captain Cook's first voyage.[1]
Nothofagus betuloides grows from southern Chile and southern Argentina (40°S) to Tierra del Fuego (56°S), specimens from the southern forests resist temperatures down to −20°C (−4°F). It is found from sea level to 500 meters (1600 ft). It is an evergreen tree, up to 25 meters (82 feet), columnar appearance, in its natural environment it tolerates cold winters and absence of heat in summer.
It succeeds in Scotland. Trees planted in Faroe Islands, which were imported directly from its southernmost distribution in Tierra del Fuego, have turned out to be very hardy.[2]
The wood has beautiful marks, is pinkish, hard, semi-heavy and is used in furniture and building.
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