Nothofagus pumilio
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Nothofagus pumilio (Lenga Beech or Lenga) is a deciduous tree or shrub native to the central area of the Andes range, in the temperate forests of Chile and Argentina down to Tierra del Fuego. In southern Patagonia it grows to a height of up to 30 m, and attains a trunk diameter of 1.5 m. In more northern regions it grows only at heights above 1000 meters in the form of a shrub. The leaves are 2–4 cm long, with irregularly lobed margins, and turn to yellow and reddish tones in autumn. The fruit is a small nut 4–7 mm long.
The Lenga Beech can be found in the Valdivian temperate rain forests, Torres del Paine National Park, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Los Alerces National Park and Nahuel Huapi National Park among other places. It belongs to the same genus as the coihue.
The wood is used in construction and sometimes as a substitute for American Black Cherry in the manufacturing of cabinets.
