Red Myrtle or Beech. 



(Fagus Cunninghamii, Hooker.) 



In the matter of Beeches, Tasmania shares with the mainland the privilege of having 

 one true species, and in this case a superior one, for it seasons much quicker and better than 

 Fagus Moorei of New South Wales. The wood could not be confounded with the European Beech, 

 as the colour is quite different, being a brick red or terra cotta, and neither is the figure so distinct 

 as characterises the European species. It is a soft, yet close-grained, easy working timber, 

 light in weight, and polishes well, and could be used for doors and sashes of show cases. It 

 has been used in constructing one of the large show cases in this Museum, and is giving much 

 satisfaction, and for other reasons could be classed as a really first-class joinery and cabinet 

 timber, and is an excellent carving wood. 



Description of the Tree. This is a true Beech, and is one of the largest trees found 

 in Tasmania, attaining sometimes a height of over 100 feet and a diameter up to 4 feet, 

 with a very dense foliage. Leaves evergreen, very shortly petiolate, broadly ovate, deltoid, 

 rhomboid or orbicular, flat or slightly convex, coriaceous, ^ to i inch long. Flowers 

 monoecious. Male flowers solitary and pedicellate in the lower axils of small axillary 

 branchlets. Perianth six lobed, very small. Female involucre; sessile in the upper axils. 

 containing each three flowers. Perianth limb of three small teeth on the angles of the 

 ovary. Fruit about J inch long, consisting of one or more nuts placed upon, or more or 

 less enclosed in the usually enlarged persistent involucre. Nuts two, with three wings, 

 and a central flat one with two wings. 



Geographical Range. Ranges of Victoria and Tasmania. 





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