Nothofagus grandis Steenis

Large tree, (12-)25-45 m by (18-)45-150(-250) cm Ø (bole 10-25 m), sometimes slightly buttressed. Twigs terete, often pale greyish, lenticellate. Leaves elliptic-oblong, often dull greyish above and pale brown beneath, 4½-10 by 2-5 cm; ridge on midrib at least halfway; midrib red; nerves c. 7-9 pairs, as the veins somewhat prominent on both sides; petiole 3-10 mm. Stipules 5-7 by 3½-4 mm. ♂ Flowers orange, in 2-9 mm peduncled triads, perianth sessile, tubular, c. 6-7 mm. Stamens yellow to red, 10-17; anthers 4-5 mm. ♀ Flowers solitary, surrounded by a cupule as large as the flower already when in anthesis, orbicular, c. 9 mm Ø. Cupule in fruit large, woody, 13-17 by 8-14 mm, provided with (2-)3-4 lamellae, sessile or rarely on a 1-4 mm long stalk. Nut rhomboid or mostly orbicular, 7-10 by 9½-10 mm.

Mountain forest, 1350-2600 m.Not seldom very common and forming massive forests e.g. in Western Highlands (Wabag), Central Highlands (Goilala, Wahgi Divide), Southern Highlands (Ialibu, dominant at 2000 m; Mt Gilu-we, S. slopes, dominant on dissected ash plains, with Pandanus, a single time as a shrub, 2 m, SCHODDE 1450), Eastern Highlands (Al R.; Non-dugl in almost pure stands at 2100 m), Mt Hagen (common, Aiyura, Wau), Morobe Distr. (Edie Creek; Kaindi, overwhelmingly dominant, 2000-2400 m), Milne Bay Distr. (Mt Dayman, dominant from 1800 m to summit), sometimes associated with Phyllocladus. ♂ Fl. mostly June-July, fr. almost in all months, flush May-Aug., Dec.-Jan.

Uses. Planted at Bomkan village (Upper Chim-bu) for ornament around villages, E. Mt Wilhelm, for ? ornament, seedlings brought from Bundi Gap, and Bismarck Ra., ditto near native homesteads and in garden lands.