1. Private Forests Tasmania
  2. Myrtle Beech

Myrtle Beech

Nothofagus Cunninghamii

Scientific Name

Nothofagus Cunninghamii

Family Name

FAGACEAE

Common Name

Myrtle Beech

General Information

Height 50.0m (5000cm)
Flowers On new growth, male: solitary stalked,hanging stamens, female: unstalked in threes in axils.
Fruit Nutlets
Form Tree or sometimes a dense shrub
Municipalities Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Dorset; Flinders Island; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar
Communities Rainforest; Wet Eucalypt Forest
Habitat Notes Dominates rainforest throughout most of the state. It also occurs as an understorey tree in tall eucalypt forest and extends as a shrub into the subalpine and alpine zones. Slow growing in cultivation. Will stand full sun but prefers shade.
Site Tolerance Moist; Moist; Shady
Frost Tolerance Hardy
Soil Tolerance Fertile; Loam; Phosphorous intolerant; Well-drained
General Notes The timber, pinkish-brown in colour, takes a fine polish and is valued for cabinet work, joinery, floor-boards and the heels of shoes. Not suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Flowering Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Seed Collecting Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sowing Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Cutting Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection Seed borne in small nutlets,4mm in diameter, each with a central flat seed and two winged seeds (both germinable). seed falls over several months: later in the season has lower viability. heavy crops usually every 2-3 years
Seed Treatment Method Standard
Seed Storage Life possibly 4 years
Seed Treatment Notes Best sown fresh. Storage at 3-5o Cwill help extend viability. Viable seed sinks after soaking in water for 48 hrs. Highest viability (about 45%) occurs in heavy seed crop years and is higher for seed picked at the peak of collection period. Higher altitudes reduce viability.
Germination Time 6-8 weeks

Cuttings

Propagation By Division No
Cutting Notes Usually give a low percentage of success.