Nothofagus are ectomycorhizal. No appropriate fungal symbiont,
no growth.

(JRP) writes:

Hello.
I just came across a problem concerning Nothofagus trees. There is a
wealth of species from the southern hemisphere and they are supposed to
have spread apart to very distant places (Chile, Australia, NZ) after
continental the drift from Antartica.

My question is simple. Are these shrubs and trees supposed to get their
nitrogen from symbiotic bacteria, as it is known in other species as
Casuarina (and desert oak in Australia) ? Is this case they would
sustain poor soil conditions. This is true for instance for Alnus shrubs
(Alder) growing on stony scree here in the french Alpes. Some people in
France are trying to adapt some Nothofagus varieties, not only to the
wild, but to gardens.

Thank you in advance for your kind consideration and comments.

--
Jean Pelmont
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