Nothofagus pumilio
Specifications
Family
Notofagaceae
Species
Nothofagus pumilio (Poepp. & Endl.) Krasser
lenga beech
Description
The sapwood is whitish, or at least lighter than the heartwood, whose color ranges from pink to yellowish brown; upon exposure to air, these shades darken considerably. The texture is fine, the grain often wavy or interwoven, and the density ranges from 0.48 to 0.65. During drying, it is subject to warping and cracking.
Plant morphology
In southern Patagonia, it grows as a tree up to 30 meters tall, while further north, above 1,000 meters, it becomes a shrub. The trunk is columnar, the bark smooth, and the leaves are simple, elliptical, with sinuous, serrated edges, and dark green. The fruit is a small achene.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
South America, south of the 37th parallel: Argentina, Chile, Tierra del Fuego.
Habitat and ecology
It prefers low temperatures and areas with prolonged snowfall, with the possibility of frost in any season and temperatures as low as -30 C°.
Uses
Application areas
It is used in construction, general carpentry, boat decks, floorboards, furniture, shingles, frames, decorative veneers.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Slightly obvious
Texture
Fine
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
480
kg/m3