Fagus

[Haydynb]

Morning all.. anyone been into Cradle this week .if so much turning of the fagus yet?

[Neo]

From Rangers working out there

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/science/ ... g/12147698

[eggs]

On the 26th Feb we came across this on the Arm River Track.
It is a beech leaf, but I was not convinced it was fagus.
Has anyone seen a non-fagus beech turning this colour?

[robl]

That looks like nothofagus cunninghamii (Tasmanian Myrtle or Myrtle Beech).
The deciduous beech is nothofagus gunni and has a more serrated and crinkled leaf.

[eggs]

Agreed. But I was not aware they change colour like that?

[weetbix456]

That colour variation on the nothofagus cuninghamii is a result of new growth as far as I am aware

[bushwalker zane]

That colour variation on the nothofagus cuninghamii is a result of new growth as far as I am aware

Second this. I believe it's a way of the plant not overusing delicate new growth if that growth is in a sunnier place. Sunscreen if you like. I've seen whole Myrtles in January/February that are coloured red-yellow when in an exposed spot. The leaves are really soft too, not as tough as the older growth. I have seen this colouration in other alive plants too, even some tea-trees.

I would love to be looking at fagus right now! Alas.

[Xastorm]

I’d agree new growth too, although yours it is very distinct (and beautiful).

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