Northofagus alpina Rauli

A tall, elegant, deciduous southern beech which is native to Chile and Argentina. It grows well in the west of Britain but it is not cold hardy. Under good conditions it grows quickly to produce trees with straight trunks at growth rates that compare with some commercial conifers and it has been planted occasionally in forests as part of forest trials. However, its susceptibility to cold damage and the value of its wood (which is not very dense) has precluded it from commercial forestry. The leaves are somewhat beech-like but are rather more long-ovate, pointed and have finely serrated margins. There are some significant stands in Glyn Castle Forest and in the lower Pelenna Valley near Pontrhydyfen. It produces abundant seed under favourable conditions and will self-sow to produce saplings which become naturalised. It hybridises with Northofagus obliqua (Mirb.) Blume, which is also grown occasionally.

Neophyte

Also known as Northofagus procera Oerst. and Lophozonia alpina (Poepp. & Endl.) Heenan & Smissen.