Fauna
Plant

Red Beech

Nothofagus fusca

Also known as Tāwhai Raunui, Tāwhai, Fusca Beech

Red beech towers over lower hillslopes and valley floors across New Zealand, forming expansive, dark-canopied temperate forests. Distinctive coarsely serrated leaves turn vibrant shades of red before shedding in spring as fresh foliage flushes. These long-lived trees anchor rich ecosystems powered by scale insects that produce sweet honeydew along the deep furrows of their bark.

EvergreenForest TreeNew Zealand Native
Red Beech reference
(c) Christopher Stephens, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Christopher Stephens · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Brushtail Possum
  • Red Deer
  • Beech Scale Insect
ThreatsInvasive herbivores, forest clearing, honeydew competition from introduced wasps
HabitatsLowland and lower montane forests, valley floors, well-drained fertile soils
Life span300–500 years
Classification
  1. FamilyNothofagaceae
  2. SpeciesNothofagus fusca
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Foliage Identification: Look for glossy, oval leaves with prominent coarse teeth along the margins.
  • Bark Pattern: Examine mature trunks for deeply furrowed, dark grey-brown bark coated in moss or honeydew drops.
  • Bird Spotting: Listen for honeyeaters darting around the trunk where scale insects produce sweet honeydew.
Related species
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