The spatial and physical characteristics of foliage varied systematically with canopy height in a broad-leaved evergreen forest of Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortiodes (Hook.f.) Poole (mountain beech) in the Craigieburn Range, South Island, New Zealnd. Leaf inclination angle, leaf weight per unit area, leaf nitrogen concentration, leaf photosynthetic capacity and leaf reflectance of photosynthetically active radiation all decreased with depth in the canopy. These changes will result in a more uniform distribution of photosynthetically active radiation through the canopy and a greater canopy carbon gain than possible in canopies composed of randomly oriented leaves with constant physical properties. The mean leaf area index of the Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortiodes foliage was 6.cntdot.7 and mean branch silhouette area index was 1.cntdot.4. Mistletoe (Alepis flavida [Hook.f.] Tiegh) was present in the canopy and had a leaf area index of 0.cntdot.14, and a stem silhouette area index of 0.cntdot.02. Total beech and mistletoe foliage biomass was 1183 and 36 g m-2 respectively and total beech and mistletoe foliage nitrogen mass was 12.cntdot.3 and 0.cntdot.37 g m-2.