The second major forest type in New Zealand provides a strong contrast to the conifer broadleaf forest.
Beech forests are generally much simpler in structure and lack the diversity of species.
Wild New Zealand , p. 32. Beech forest becomes more complex with higher rainfall, as on the west of mountains at higher latitudes. Mountain Beech, the smallest of the beech trees, is often reduced to a small prostrate shrub on wetter, poorer soils at high altitudes. Wild New Zealand , p. 31. In many places in New Zealand, conifer broadleaf forest gives way at higher elevations to a beech forest dominated by one or more of the montane beeches - red, silver or mountain.