Deciduous Beech and Snowgums near Lake Fenton With its easily accessible waterfalls, glacier -carved tarns, mosses, ferns, tall trees and wildlife, Mount Field is delightful at any time of year. In summer it’s a sea of wildflowers. In winter there’s skiing, but I especially love it when the deciduous beech is turning. Nothofagus Gunnii is endemic to Tasmania and is Australia’s only native deciduous tree. It is however related to similar species in New Zealand, South America, New Caledonia and New Guinea. All are part of the evidence of the theory of continental drift and the fact that they were once connected, even if that was around 180 million years ago. The tiny leaves and bonsaied branches of the Tasmanian species attest to survival under harsh and changing climatic conditions. Let’s hope they survive the next one because there is nowhere else for them to go. Not so striking perhaps if you are familiar with the mixed forests of Europe or North Americ...
Practising Geographer - nature culture places people