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NZ Plants

Lophozonia menziesii - tawhai, tawai, silver beech

Southern beech family: Nothofagaceae

Lophozonia menziesii is a large forest tree with silvery grey trunk that often has buttress at the base of the trunk. The dark, green, glossy leaves are similar to those of Fuscospora fusca but are very leathery and much smaller in size and have small rounded marginal teeth. Formerly placed in the genus Nothofagus. Six additional species of Lophozonia are found in southern South America and Australia.
An endemic species found  from the middle of the North Island to the southern tip of the South Island.
 

 

Vegetative characteristics

Reproductive characteristics

Plant form: tree up to 30 m

Arrangement of parts: symmetric

Leaf form: undivided, broadly oval to triangular

Flower size: 2-3 mm diam.

Leaf size: 8-12 mm

Tepals (sepals indistinguishable from petals): 5

Leaf arrangement: alternate on the stem

Sexuality: unisexual on the same plant

Leaf attachment: stipule

Stamens: 30-36

Leaf margin: doubly toothed

Ovary: below petals

Leaf surface: hairs; domatia pores on undersurface

Fruit: dry


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