Nothofagus cunninghamii Oerst.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘The Southern Beech which forms the subject of our illustration is that which in Tasmania is spoken of as the “Myrtle-tree.”  In Tasmania it forms much of the evergreen forest, and occurs on the mountains up to an elevation of 4,000 feet, but towards their summits becomes much dwarfed.  It is also met with in various localities in south-eastern Australia.  Though not hardy at Kew, and though rarely cultivated at all, N. Cunninghamii makes an elegant small tree in the milder parts of the British Isles. There are fine specimens in Ireland at Fota, near Queenstown, and at Kilmadurragh, while there is a well-known example in the Royal demesne at Osborne, Isle of Wight.  It has also lived out of doors in parts of Surrey and Sussex.  The date of its first introduction to Europe is uncertain, but the tree at Fota, which is now nearly fifty feet in height, is believed to have been planted half-a-century ago.’  [BM t.8584/1914].

‘That Fagus Cunninghamii, the beautiful little Van Diemen’s Land Evergreen Beech, is hardy up to the latitude of London we now hold to be perfectly well ascertained’.  [Gard. Chron. 1854].  Introduced to Britain in 1843.  [JD].

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues only [T.445/1850].  Macarthur probably obtained his plants from Tasmania from one of his many contacts there.  He imported a number of Tasmanian natives at this time.

Notes

Nothofagus species are sometimes placed in their own family, Nothofagaceae.