Unidentified vine wood

[movay_2008]

I finished this inscense stick burner which is made from what I thought was vine wood that I found in a creek near the Border Ranges here. The recent floods have made a good hunting ground for interesting bits of wood and crystals.It seems to hard for vine wood but it has a spectacular yellow heart wood. the base is coastal cypress. I must go back and invesigate more.

[movay_2008]

I just found out this is from a cocks spur, or Coral tree. It must be a root or something because cock spur isn't a vine as far as I know. Anyway the upshot is that I could hardly work today as I was feeling quite buzzy with languid muscles. Some research revealed that the plant has all sorts of alkoloids in it - fairly harmless, and is used as a relaxant and sedative - although the seeds are more potent. Yes, the dust mask was neglected