Fuscospora fusca, syn Nothofagus fusca, tawhairanui, or red beech is endemic to the North and South Islands, and is found from Te Aroha and Rotorua southwards in the North Island, but is localized north of East Cape, and is absent from Mount Taranaki. It is found throughout the South Island. It grows in lowland to mountain forest from sea-level to 1060m asl. It is a tall forest tree that grows up to 30m tall with a dark brown to black trunk (on older trees) up to 1.8m or more in diameter, bearing masses of mid to dark green, sharply-toothed leaves, that can have a  reddish tinge in winter, and also have a small hairy pit at the junction of the veins. It flowers between September and January, and the small flowers and fruit are usually inconspicuous, but change the colour of tree when in flower. Its wood possesses an even, compact, and straight grain that is red-coloured. In the past the wood has been used for wharf and bridge construction, for railway sleeper and for house building, but today is used mainly for making furniture or for more decorative work and woodturning.