Southern Beech, False Beech, Nirre, Nire                 no-thoh-FAH-gus an-TARK-ti-ka

• Deciduous tree, open, or a dense shrub in exposed sites, 40-50 ft (12-15 m) tall, slender trunk, scaly attractive bark.  Leaves simple, alternate, 1.3-4 cm long, broadly ovate to triangular, crinkly, rounded at tip, irregularly and minutely toothed, medium green, yellow fall color (at best).  Flowers inconspicuous, fruit 6 mm, 4-valved capsule, very fragrant.
• Sun, prefers acid loam, tolerates wind and drought when established.
• Hardy to USDA Zone (7)8     Native to South America, Cape Horn into the Andes.  Besides a medium-sized tree, there is also a dwarfish form.  A form with more upright-growing branches was selected at the Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle, and named 'Puget Piller'.
• Nothofagus: from nothos, false, and fagus, beech.    antarctica: of Antarctic regions.
• Oregon State Univ. campus: small plant east of the south entrance to Dearborn