beauty.

There is evidence that it has been in Tasmania for 40 million years, according to Greg Jordan, head of biological science at the University of Tasmania.

"It's a beautiful thing that lives in a beautiful place, and it does a thing that in our part of the world is unique — it loses its leaves.

"The fagus is one of the last living species of an ancient and widespread group of plants."

Fagus likes cold, moist alpine areas. ( Supplied: Professor Greg Jordan )

Nothofagus gunnii and its close relatives were once widespread throughout the Southern Hemisphere.

"There's fossils from all over Australia, Antarctica and the south of South America," Dr Jordan said.

"The fagus was part of what is a rainforest community that now, as the climate became drier and more fire-prone overthe following day.

"Until about 15 years ago, dry lightning was a rarity in western Tasmania," Dr Jordan said.

Fire specialist David Bowman said fagus did not recover from fire.

"Even a fire once every 1,000 years, it's not designed to resist fire," said Mr Bowman, who described fagus as a refugee from Antarctica.

"They're effectively a living fossil.

"Climate change will eventually knock it off, but the fire threat will be more immediate.

"These trees are only just holding on."

Part of an 'ancient system'

Fagus is part of an ancient system of plants living together.

Along with pencil pines and King Billy pines, the trees have been living in the same habitat for millions of years, Dr Jordan said.

"They're all at threat," he said.

"It won't be one year, it won't be 10 — it might