4) 4 FAGUS SOLANDRI. 
* 
after reaching maturity, as decay commences at the heart very soon after they 
have attained their full dimensions. The irregular shape of the heartwood neces- 
sarily increases the proportion of waste when timber of first quality is required ; 
it is however largely converted for bridges and other constructive works, railway- 
sleepers, gate-posts, fencing-stuff, especially for rails, and even building-timber, 
although with the extension of railways its use for this purpose has become 
more restricted. It is also used by the wheelwright for spokes. In districts 
where both tooth-leaved and entire-leaved beech are common, the former is 
specially in demand for fence-posts, the latter for rails. Owing to its stout 
erain, newly-converted timber, when exposed to the weather, splits and cracks to 
a considerable depth in a very short time, so that in many cases it becomes 
unfit for use from this cause alone. This defect might be partially obviated by 
stacking it under open sheds until seasoned. 
The medullary rays of mature timber are more lasting than the wood formed 
by the fibro-vascular bundles of the annual cylinder. This is constantly seen in 
fallen trees in the forest: after the decay of the sapwood the heartwood appears 
to be divided into numerous interrupted lamine, running longitudinally, and pro- 
jecting more or less above the general mass, owing to the early decay of the 
wood of the greater portion of the cylinder. If the log has been kept from the 
eround the medullary plates often project from 1in. to 2in. above the undecayed 
portion of the log, showing thin rounded weather-worn edges, perfectly sound 
and extremely hard: they are easily broken off by a sharp blow, and vary from 
j4in. to din. in thickness at the base. This peculiarity is exhibited only by 
fully-matured timber. 
DistripuTioN OF THE GENUS, 
The genus Fagus comprises about sixteen species, distributed through the 
temperate and frigid regions of both hemispheres. It is divided into two species, 
Eufagus and Nothofagus: the latter, consisting of thirteen species, includes five 
found in New Zealand, three in Australia, and five in South America. 
DiIstRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Fagus Solandri is restricted to New Zealand, and occurs in both the North 
and South Islands. It attains its northern limit on the western slopes of the 
East Cape, above Cape Runaway, from whence it extends southwards to Otago, 
but is often restricted and local, although common on both the east and west 
coasts. It ascends from the sea-level to about 2,500ft.; at higher altitudes it is 
replaced by F. cliffortioides, the mountain-beech. It is the commonest species 
on the western side of the Nelson District. 
It has been reported from the Hokianga district, but the habitat requires 
confirmation. It is not found on Stewart Island. | 
DESCRIPTION, 
Fagus Solandri, Hook. f. 
Hook., ‘‘ Icones Plantarum,”’ t. 639 and 816. | 
An evergreen moncecious tree, 6oft. to rooft. high; trunk, 2ft. to ft. in 
diameter; bark in mature trees furrowed black. Branchlets pubescent. Leaves 
on very short petioles, alternate, coriaceous, entire, 2in. to gin. long, stipules 
chaffy, deciduous, linear, oblong, obtuse, wedge-shaped at the base, oblique, 
finely reticulated above, clothed with white or grey hairs beneath. Male flowers 
axillary, solitary or in two- to threc-flowered fascicles, peduncles short, perianth 
