(Nothofagus obliqua)
"Roble", "Coyam"

General antecedents

Endemic of the subantarctic forests of Chile and Argentina.

It presents two botanical varieties in Chile, the variety macrocarp that represents the most northern distribution of the sort in Sudámerica (33° lat South), and the variety obliqua of greater distribution, between 33° 57´ until 41° 10´ South latitude.
Hibridiza naturally with Nothofagus glauca (Phil.) Krasser " Hualo " generating to Nothofagus leonii Thorny " Huala ", with intemedium characteristics with the parentales species and endemic of central zone of Chile.
It prefers fertile and deep grounds, also adapting another type of grounds where the humidity is not a limitant.
In his North distribution it is developed in the gorges and the edges of the matting with alluvial grounds and in height between 1,000 and 2,000 m.s.n.m., where the oak tends to grow stocky and with little commercial value.
In this situation it grows in pure rodales like only dominant species, with arbustivo underbrush. In height forests also it tends to grow in pure form, but in some areas it can grow with peumo, boldo, quillay or lingue, in the conditions of greater humidity.
When extending towards the south and in gorges, it grows mixed with raulí, coihue, lingue, cinnamon-coloured, mañio of long leaves, hazel and laurel. In the high parts the forest is mixed with raulí, constituting type Raulí Oak.
In low and faldeos sectors of mountain the oak grows next to lingue and laurel in formation type park. In areas towards the south, the oak grows next to species siempreverdes characteristic of the valdiviano forest.

Botanical characteristics:
Monoico tree, of about 20 mts that can reach up to 40 mts tall and more than 40 cm up to 2 ms in diameter, cylindrical trunk and heavy crust and lasts, cracked in great plates.

Pirámidal, very brunchy glass.

Subcoriáceas to coriáceas, of oval or form, alternating leaves, remarkably asymmetric in the base, irregularly saw-dentated edges , very variable size according to the origin, of 2-5 cm in length by 1,5-3 cm wide, with papilas resinous in their adaxial face, of pale green color at the back.
Unisexuals, small flowers, those that are developed in the end of the new branches.
The male flowers, are solitary.
The female flowers with two or three stigmatas, are in groups of three.
The fruits are pyrámidaly, ligneous nuts of oval form of 4-8 mm in length by 6 mm wide, reunited in number of three inside the cupola, the power station is biwinged and both lateral they are triwinged, protected by the cupola with 4 valvas made oval, wide.
The number of seeds by kg varies between 50,000 and 150,000, the viability fluctuates according to the year of production, varying between 11 and 43%, with high contents of vain seeds, being able to deal with biannual cycles.
The seeds are microbiotics and they stay alive not more than two years in natural conditions. The conservation in dry storage to 2°C, with a humidity content under 10%, allows to keep them by near 20 years. Epígea germination.

Fenology
The time of flowering it happens at beginnings of spring, between September to October and the maturation of its fruits takes place between February and April.

Importance
It is one of the forest species of greater distribution and abundance in the south of Chile in different habitats from his natural distribution. The wood presents good characteristics of resistance and durability, being used in a the construction of bridges, posts, rail road ties, plates, exteriors, etc. It presents a high economic interest in the sawmill industry.
The whiteness is off-white yellowish little resistant outdoors, duramen is reddish, call " pellin ". The adult units are most valuable by the reddish wood, lasts outdoors, heavy, resistant.
In experimental plantations made in Chile they reach to the 20 years, between 16-18 m of height and 15 to 17 ms 3/ha/year in volume.

The Vegetation of the Natural Area Protected Epulauquen. Neuquen. Argentina. Forest of Pellín Oak (Nothofagus obliqua).
Nothofagus obliqua (Mierb.) Oerst. (it rivets pellín) has a geographic distribution in the Chilean slope from 36º to 40º Lat. The south. In Argentina one appears between 35º and 42º Lat. The south in sporadic form between the Aluminé Departments , Lácar and Huiliches, although small wooded masses in the North of Neuquén exist, that mainly characterize the Natural Area Protected - Epulauquen that marks the northern limit of the species. The Provincial Reserve of Epu-lauquen is located in the center-west of the Department Mines, to the NW of the Province of the Neuquén, with a surface of 7450. The dominant geomorfology is of ice nature. The original material of the ground is derived from holocénic volcanic ashes. The objective of this work is to study and to characterize the forest of Oak pellín of this zone. 20 investigations with the fitosociological method of Braun Blanquet took place. Of the obtained results, which concludes that this community belongs to sintaxa Dioscoreo-Nothofagetum obliquae, with extends the propose corology by other authors for the patagonic forests Andean of Argentina. One discusses to the dependency of this community with some variables (altitude, exhibition, slope) and the state of conservation in which one is.

Uses:
Given his properties it is used in heavy works of buildings, bridges, furniture, posts, stakes for mines, rail road ties, boats, etc.

Qualities:
We have of this wood in all the qualities, as much dryer as of patio