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Scientific Name
Nothofagus cunninghamii
Family Name
FAGACEAE
Common Name
Myrtle, Myrtle Beech
Status
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
Propagation Calendar
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
Viable Seeds Per Gram
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
Suitable for Direct Seeding
Cuttings
Expected Time to Take Root
Expected Time to Plant Out
Propagation by Division
N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.
No
Cutting Notes
Usually give a low percentage of success.
Copyright 2000-2009, Understorey Network Incorporated. Updated 2024-10-12
Database development and website design by
Andrew Smith