New Zealand Map Series 1:
S33 063 509 (WGS84 -41.927199 172.671995)
Altitudes:
from 1372m
Habitat:
Timberline, mountain beech, low forest.
Notes:
Mass collection
Specimen notes
Subsheet:
Sheets A to B
Supplementary remarks:
The identity of black beech, Nothofagus solandri var. solandri, and mountain beech, N. solandri var. cliffortioides, at their respective low and high altitude extremes in a simple matter. However in many mid-altitude sites the genetic nature of the population is intermediate and more complex. This commonly leads to confusion in the naming of the many vegetation forest types to which both taxa contribute as major dominants. To investigate this some 50 populations have been sampled on the basis of selecting 20 leaves of constant age from the crown foliage of each adult trees. A series of radical measurements has been made of each leaf. In association with D. Rhoades, Applied Mathematics Division, DSIR, a computer programme using Fourrier Analysis has been developed that allows a single equation describing leaf shape to be subjected to statistical analysis. All indications are that Nothofagus solandri is a clinal species, typified by mountain beech. Black beech may have arisen from low frequency introgression between this species and hard red beech.
Botany Division Triennial Report 1976-78 p.45, 1980.