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Antarctic Beech
Nothofagus moorei
-28.2411, 153.266
Field Notes
Description:
A cluster of Antarctic Beech trees, the largest of which is probably 2000 years old. These trees are ancient relics of Gondwana, and are protected within the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, this particular section being Springbrook National Park.
Habitat:
They grow in cool temperate rainforests from the Barrington Tops plateau in New South Wales, north to the Lamington Plateau and Springbrook Plateau, in southern Queensland, between altitudes of 500 m and 1550m. These are the northern limits of this species. They occur in temperate to cool temperatures and even areas with occasional snowfalls. Clearly the limitations of their distribution to these very climate-specific locations supports the theory that they are remnants from a time when cooler conditions were far more widespread.
Notes:
Probably not as acclaimed as their mates down the track http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/26607028 this cluster of Antarctic Beech trees is nonetheless impressive, nestled amongst the basalt boulders that form the volcanic caldera where they are situated. The largest tree here would be at least 2000 years old if the size of the other large Beech are any indication.
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