{{Short description|Species of plant}} {{Speciesbox | image = Nothofagus_dombeyi.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 11 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Barstow, M. |author2=Baldwin, H. |author3=Rivers, M.C. |date=2017 |title=''Nothofagus dombeyi'' |volume=2017 |article-number=e.T34852A67806877 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T34852A67806877.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Nothofagus | parent = Nothofagus subg. Nothofagus | species = dombeyi | authority = (Mirb.) Oerst. | synonyms = ''Fagus dombeyi'' <small>Mirb.</small> }}

thumb|200px|An ornamental clipboard made of Nothofagus dombeyi heartwood

'''''Nothofagus dombeyi''''', '''Dombey's beech''',<ref name=BSBI07>{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17}}</ref> '''coigue''',<ref>{{PLANTS|id=NODO|taxon=Nothofagus dombeyi|access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> '''coihue''' or '''coigüe''' (from Mapudungun ''koywe'') is a tree species native to southern Chile and the Andean parts of Argentine Patagonia. It is a fast-growing species that can live in a wide range of climatic conditions, and forms dense forests. It is cultivated for its timber, and as an ornamental subject.

The shadow produced by stands of ''Nothofagus dombeyi'' is an important factor that keeps the air around streams cool and with relatively low daily temperature variations.<ref name=GayanaBo>{{Cite journal |title=Importancia de la vegetación ribereña de Nothofagus dombeyi (Mirb.) Oerst. en el régimen térmico de sistemas fluviales andinos del sur de Chile |journal=Gayana. Botánica |last1=Pedreros |first1=Pablo |issue=1 |volume=73 |last2=Guevara-Mora |first2=Meyer |last3=Urrutia |first3=Roberto |last4=Stehr |first4=Alejandra |year=2016 |pages=32–41 |language=Spanish |trans-title=The importance of Nothofagus dombeyi (Mirb.) Oerst. riparian vegetation in the thermal regime of Andean streams of Southern Chile|doi=10.4067/S0717-66432016000100005 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2016GayBo..73...32P |hdl=10533/240019 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

==Description== It can become a large tree, up to {{convert|45|m|ft|abbr=on}} high and {{convert|1.9|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter. One tree, felled by a storm in 1954, reportedly measured {{convert|2.55|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter at the height of a man's chest and a total volume, including the branches, of 87 m³.

The coihue usually has elegant branches which are flattened horizontally. The leaves are evergreen, small (25–40&nbsp;mm long and 10–16&nbsp;mm wide), thick, coriaceous (leathery) and lustrous, dark green, with toothed borders and an acute apex; they have a very small, rounded and rhomb-shaped petiole. The tree is hermaphroditic; male and female flowers are grouped in the same tree, and pollen is spread by wind action. The flowers, measuring less than 5&nbsp;mm, are insignificant. The fruit is a triangular nut measuring about 4–7&nbsp;mm.

==Etymology== The name of the tree is often spelled '''''coigüe''''' (reflecting the common Spanish pronunciation with an epenthetic ''g''). Other related trees named ''coihue'' are the '''Coihue de Magallanes''' (''Nothofagus betuloides''), and the '''Coihue de Chiloé''' (''Nothofagus nitida'').

The Latin specific epithet ''dombeyi'' honours the French botanist Joseph Dombey (1742-1794).<ref name=RHSLG>{{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Lorraine |title=RHS Latin for Gardeners |year=2012 |publisher=Mitchell Beazley |location=United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84533-731-5 }}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat== ''Nothofagus dombeyi'' is found from 35 to 45° South latitude between {{convert|700|and|1,200|m|ft|abbr=on}} above mean sea level. It forms dense forests such as those found in the Los Alerces and Nahuel Huapi national parks. It thrives in low hills with gentle slopes, being very demanding of water and soil; the largest forests are found on south-facing slopes, and the healthier specimens tend to grow on the banks of rivers and lakes. It sometimes forms mixed forests with ''Araucaria araucana'' (monkey-puzzle) trees, for example in the Villarrica National Park in Chile.

==Uses== Coihue timber is considered excellent. In Argentina its exploitation is limited by the presence of the best forests within national parks. The wood is bright grayish white; the heartwood is a pale pink-white, which darkens after cut. Its texture is very fine and makes it easy to work with. It has a beautiful engraving, is semi-heavy, hard, durable and decay resistant. It is used in furniture, barrels, floors and building.

''Nothofagus dombeyi'' has been introduced as an ornamental tree for parks and large gardens in the British Isles<ref>[http://www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_list_of_all_plants/N/plant_list_N.htm TWFS List of Accepted Plants of the British Isles 2007]</ref> where it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.<ref name = RHSPF>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/11561/i-Nothofagus-dombeyi-i/Details | title = RHS Plantfinder - ''Nothofagus dombeyi'' | access-date= 13 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 69 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 13 April 2018}}</ref> It has also been introduced to the North Pacific Coast of the United States.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/ArboretumReport.pdf | title=''Nothofagus dombeyi'' in Washington Park Arboretum}}</ref> It requires an acid pH soil which is fertile and reliably moist. Young plants need shelter from cold winds; however mature specimens are hardy down to {{convert|-15|C|F|abbr=on}}.<ref name = RHSPF/>

==Gallery== <gallery> Image:Nothofagus dombeyi.JPG|Young tree File:Nothofagus dombeyi leaves 001 (Valerio Pillar).jpg|Leaves </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *''Libro del Árbol: Especies Forestales Indígenas de la Argentina de Aplicación Industrial'' (edited by Celulosa Argentina S. A., Buenos Aires, October 1975) *Donoso, C. 2005. Árboles nativos de Chile. Guía de reconocimiento. Edición 4. Marisa Cuneo Ediciones, Valdivia, Chile. 136p. *Hoffmann, Adriana. 1998. Flora Silvestre de Chile, Zona Central. Edición 4. Fundación Claudio Gay, Santiago. 254p. *Rodríguez, R. & Quezada, M. 2003. Fagaceae. En C. Marticorena y R. Rodríguez [eds.], Flora de Chile Vol. 2(2), pp 64–76. Universidad de Concepción, Concepción.

==External links== {{Commons category-inline}}

{{NothofagaceaeSpecies}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q1107183}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Nothofagaceae Category:Flora of the Andes Category:Flora of central Chile Category:Flora of Argentina Category:Trees of Argentina Category:Trees of Chile Category:Flora of the Valdivian temperate forests Category:Least concern plants Category:Least concern biota of South America Category:Garden plants of South America Category:Ornamental trees Category:Fagales of Argentina Category:Fagales of Chile