Nothofagus_truncata
Nothofagus truncata
Species of tree
Nothofagus truncata, or hard beech (Māori: tawhai raunui), is a species of tree endemic to New Zealand.[2] Its common name derives from the fact that the timber has a high silica content, making it tough and difficult to saw.[3] Hard beech is a tree up to 30m tall occurring in lowland and lower montane forest from latitude 35°S to 42°30'S, that is, from the north of the North Island southwards to Marlborough and south Westland in the South Island.[4] In Taranaki it forms almost pure stands on the rugged sandstone country there and is partially deciduous, dropping many of its leaves at the end of the winter.[5] N. truncata became known as Fuscospora truncata after 2013 in New Zealand.[6]