8 replies to this topic

[Shane V]

Fagus is a small, slow growing, tree usually growing to only 2 metres tall. It is only found in the Tasmania high country, above 800 metres, where there is a lot of rain. The tree lays claim to the fact that it is the only Australian winter-deciduous tree, its leaves change colour and drop off in autumn.

The leaves are roundish, with prominent veins and toothed edges that are also rounded. They range in colour from rust red to gold and the change in colour begins around the end of April and continues through May.

When we went to Cradle Mountain last weekend we saw this display on the sides of Cradle Mountain itself and it was awesome. We have seen Cradle at different times of the year but I don't think it was as beautiful as it was on this day at those other times.

A recent survey has shown that there is only about 10 000 hectares growing in Tasmania. A factor for the survival of Fagus is the absence of fire. Deciduous Beech recovers very slowly after fire, if at all, so we need to keep the habitat of this tree from being burnt.

People can see Fagus in a few places in Tasmania. Cradle Mountain and Lake Fenton in Mt Field NP have easy access for viewing of this spectacular tree. A distribution map of Fagus can be found here.

Even though this tree is only endemic to Tasmania, it has relatives on the mainland of Australia. They are the Nothofagus cunninghamii, Myrtle Beech, which grows in Tasmania and Victoria and the Nothofagus moorei, Antarctic Beech, which grows in North East NSW and South East Queensland. Both of these plants are evergreens.

The species of Nothofagus most closely related to Fagus are found in South America and New Zealand, strongly supporting the suggestion that Tasmania was formerly linked to those landmasses millions of years ago.

It is given the name Tanglefoot by bushwalkers because of the twisted ground-hugging branches which can cause tripping and entanglement.

I think this is definitely one of the most beautiful trees in Tasmania. If you are here during the autumn colour change make the time to go and see it you won't be disappointed.

[frank_in_oz]

Saw a beautiful lot of Fagus around Crater Lake last Wednesday morning. It was spectacular, and my wife who had been there a couple of weeks before was VERY jealous. Missed out on that great view of Cradle as we had low cloud, rain and fog for 3 days!!!

[Mystic]

Welcome back Frank. The track up to Crater Lake looked as though it was putting on a great display. Hope we are going to get a report on the walk when you have recovered.

[frank_in_oz]

Hi Anna,
Will probably do a short report on "Our Hiking Blog". I walked with a guy from the US who met me via the blog (I introduced him as my internet lover.....) He is going to write up a big post for me on the walk but that will take a couple of weeks. We had fun but could not take any photo's for 3 days due to the "rather high" humidity levels..........

[Mystic]

A word of warning to those seeking to see the fagus at Mt Field NP. Long believed extinct, the Tasmanian Funnel Web spider was rediscovered in 1995 to exist in large numbers in mossy boulders alongside the Fagus growing near the Lake Fenton spillway. This area is now the only known habitat for the spider, though the population appears to be very healthy.

[nineteenineteen]

Do you mean the Lake Fenton Trapdoor Spider, Anna? They were listed as extinct until recently (upgraded to endangered). The Cascades Funnel Web is extinct, only known from a single specimin recovered in the 19th century.

I have heard of funnel web spiders living in all parts of the state (a lady I know was bitten on her gumboot south of Huonville), although I don't know if these are actual funnel webs or "funnel webs" in the same way that Huntsman Spiders are "tarantulas"

[Shane V]

Nope not the trapdoor, definitely a funnel web. check out this link for more info. scroll to the bottom.

[nineteenineteen]

Ah, I see. Looks like they are one & the same (Plesiothele hickmani/fentoni). I was getting my info from:
http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPa...5PA9XL?open#E-Z

The trouble with common names is that they're not often all that common

[Mystic]

Does appear to be so Wayne, thanks. Common names can definitely create problems, and especially so when concerning spiders. I had seen another reference a long time back to this spider, giving a bit more detail, but have never been able to locate it again While doing a bit of research into the credentials of Dr Robert raven I did discover that of the 10,000 or so species of spiders known to exist in Australia, only about 3,000 have been described, and only around 50 have been venom tested. Not surprising then to find common names overlapping.

Dr Robert Raven is supposed to be one of the leading experts in spiders in Australia, and I am currently waiting for a reply to an email I sent his department in the hope of gaining an ID on my other little beastie.