Thread: Flame Tree

The collective power of the forum thanks to everyone for input, (including the joking) it does look like wizened is on the money, I didn't go out there today so no pics but soon.


Pete

Raintree for mine....definately not Flame tree...

Being Rocky theres a fair chance its raintree Albizia saman. Timber & bark certainly looks like it. Pretty common in Townsville & hard to give away here. sapwood can be very irritating when sanding.

Here's a photo of Raintree (Albizia saman) bark.
To me that is not the bark in pjt's photos.

I still think it's Raintree.......

Raintree has a course bark with large plates. Fleatree has a much finer bark with very small plates. The limited amount of bark showing in the photos looks quite small in the plates, which would suggest Flea tree.

Originally Posted by Wizened of Oz

Here's a photo of Raintree (Albizia saman) bark.
To me that is not the bark in pjt's photos.

Yes thats the photo from Wikipedia purporting to be the bark of Albizia saman. The Raintrees we have here in Townsville do have much different bark to that photo and have been reliably identified as Albizia saman. It will be interesting to see photos of the leaves, pods & flowers of this tree if they become available.

I can certainly see Y MM says its raintree, my avatar is raintree, well, what I belive to be anyways, I still haven't been out there but soon, I have a chunk of it here at home, had a look at the bark and it does seem to be smaller plates.

I wonder if the area where the bark comes from has an impact on description, say trunk as apposed to branch?



Pete

Have milled a far bit of it in my time (Raintree)..really does look like it,either way,beautifull timber ,though be aware the borers absolutely love the sapwood and will chew into it like there is no tomorrow...and you need to preserve it for the contrast(surface spray does the trick)...lovely stuff

Originally Posted by MAPLEMAN

Have milled a far bit of it in my time (Raintree)..really does look like it,either way,beautifull timber ,though be aware the borers absolutely love the sapwood and will chew into it like there is no tomorrow...and you need to preserve it for the contrast(surface spray does the trick)...lovely stuff

Yes, and the timber particularly the sapwood when dry sanded is not that great for humans either. Probably the most problematic timber we have here in North Queensland, rates right up there with Mackay Cedar. We have three beautiful big raintrees right across the road from home, not even 30m away. Albizia canescens - Townsville siris, and Albizia procera - Forest siris and Albizia lebbeck - Indian sirus are all present in Townsville as well.

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

Yes, and the timber particularly the sapwood when dry sanded is not that great for humans either. Probably the most problematic timber we have here in North Queensland, rates right up there with Mackay Cedar. We have three beautiful big raintrees right across the road from home, not even 30m away. Albizia canescens - Townsville siris, and Albizia procera - Forest siris and Albizia lebbeck - Indian sirus are all present in Townsville as well.

Only a problem if you don't wear a mask...it has got to be one of the most stunning timbers around...let me say,Blackwood dust isn't great for humans either...in fact,not many timbers are "safe' as such...

Looks like an albizia to me at first glance by the bark, broad sapwood and dark walnut type heartwood. There are plenty of them up here in the parks in ipswich which are cut down from time to time. After flowering they have a heap of small thin seed pods that rattle in the wind and are very distinctive. I have always thought that they may make fine gun stock timber. Would look great i know that! The slabs for blanks would have to be a bit thicket though 2.5 to 3" thick. Be very careful of the sapwood as the pinhole borers love it to death!

Great find!!

Mungomunn

Originally Posted by mungomunn

Looks like an albizia to me at first glance by the bark, broad sapwood and dark walnut type heartwood. There are plenty of them up here in the parks in ipswich which are cut down from time to time. After flowering they have a heap of small thin seed pods that rattle in the wind and are very distinctive. I have always thought that they may make fine gun stock timber. Would look great i know that! The slabs for blanks would have to be a bit thicket though 2.5 to 3" thick. Be very careful of the sapwood as the pinhole borers love it to death!

Great find!!

Mungomunn

Yours in Ipswich are most probably Albizia lebbeck (small thin seed pods that rattle in the wind and are very distinctive).

So does the Illawarra Flame tree have any uses does anyone know other that making the bonfire pile bigger? I have a few logs and won't fire up the mill if I'm wasting my time... Don't have spare time lol