Native seed catalogue

Fuscospora truncate Hard beech / Tawhairaunui

This guide is based on a literature review. It compiles information from various sources. Different sources may offer varying advice and findings.

Other known names

Nothofagus truncate, hutu, hututawai.

Propagation summary

Poor seed viability and germination rates. Stores well.

Seed propagation category

Hard.

Geographical distribution

Commonly found in the north-western parts of the South Island. Found scattered in the North Island.(1)

Seed collection

Mast seed years follow hot-dry summers – mast years occur 2–3 times every 10 years(2) (mast years are when a tree produces a lot of seeds every few years). Can use seed traps.(3) Seeds can be dispersed by wind over long distances.(1)

Seed storage

Seeds can be stored for up to 8 years in airtight containers at 5–10 °C with a 6% moisture content.(4)

Pre-sowing treatments

Cool-moist stratification for 2–3 months(5) (stratification is the process of chilling seeds to promote germination).

Seed viability

14–25% of seeds are viable.(6)

Germination

Poor germination of seeds reported across provenances.(7)

Research opportunities

Seed viability and vegetative propagation needs further investigation.

Information about the native seed profiles

All species names are in the following order: scientific name, common name, and Māori name. Names may vary by region. We have tried to use the most common names across New Zealand.

We have sourced photos from different websites and creators. We have used the images under different licences. These include Public Domain and Creative Commons licenses. For Fuscospora truncate, the image details are:

The basis for each seed profile is a literature review carried out by Scion. Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service commissioned and worked on the review to produce a native seed catalogue. The full seed catalogue is on the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website.

Native afforestation research programme: Seed propagation catalogue
1.

Haase, P (1990) Nothofagus truncata (Hard beech) in the upper Taramakau catchment, South Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 14, 31–35.

2.

Entrican, A R; Hinds, H V; Reid, J S (1957) Forest trees and timbers of New Zealand. New Zealand Forest Service Bulletin No. 12. R. E. Owen, Government Printer; Wellington, New Zealand

3.

Monks, A; Kelly, D (2006) Testing the resource-matching hypothesis in the mast seedling tree Nothogagus truncata (Fagaceae). Austral Ecology 31, 366–375.

4.

Smale M; Bergin D; Steward G (2012) The New Zealand Beeches: establishment, growth, and management. New Zealand Indigenous Tree Bulletin No.6. New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited. Rotorua, New Zealand.

5.

Metcalf, L J (1995) The propagation of New Zealand native plants. Godwit; Auckland, New Zealand.

6.

Ledgard, N J; Cath, P W (1983) Seed of New Zealand Nothofagus species: Studies of seed weight, viability, shape, and the effect of varying stratification periods. New Zealand Journal of Forestry 28(2), 150–162.

7.

Wilcox, M D; Ledgard, N J (1983) Provenance variation in the New Zealand species of Nothofagus. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 6, 19–31.

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