Kieran Tapsell of Banksia Bushcare shares his local tree of the month

Brown Beech (Pennantia cunninghamii) can be found throughout the Illawarra.

It has distinctive alternative, oval shaped, bright green leaves, with undulating margins. It is often found in the escarpment gullies. It has a fluted brown or grey trunk and can grow to 25 metres. It flowers from November to December and has black, egg-shaped berries.

The photo is of one planted in the Stanwell Avenue Reserve at the start of the Stanwell Avenue to Kiosk track.