Nothofagus

Nothofagus, commonly known as southern beech, is a genus of trees and shrubs native to the southern hemisphere, including South America, Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea. They thrive in temperate forest ecosystems and are valued for their timber and ecological importance. These trees often form dense forests and have distinctive, simple leaves. Nothofagus species play a key role in their environments by providing habitat and stabilizing soil. Their presence offers insights into ancient plant evolution since they have a long evolutionary history dating back millions of years, making them important for understanding past climates and land connections across continents.