Strange australian eucalyptus species

[ACACIA]

Hi --from Zululand---
Can anyone identify this weird tree --has mini -grape like berries
grows wild here

I Have turned Grandis ---into bowls and lamp-nice hard red wood--common here amongst African hardwoods --normally use teak mahogany ironwood

What species is this -??---see foto will send asap

[Phily]

My guess is a variety of Lilly Pilly, though as mentioned in other posts I'm no botanist!!

[Kidbee]

It's definitely not a Eucalypt or Corymbia. What makes you think it was introduced from Australia?

[Cliff Rogers]

Leaves look like a Ficus, fruit is unfamiliar but not like Lilly Pilly from up this way.

[pommyphil]

Broadleaf Privet. Horrible weed. Have turned heaps green for practice,388882 Phil

[artme]

+ one for privet.!

[ubute]

+2 privet, especially if the flowers have a nauseating sweet smell

[turnerted]

I'd say privet too .A nice wood to turn and good for making white finials .
Ted

[cava]

+1 for Privet.

[NathanaelBC]

I guess privet is kinda related to eucalyptus, both being members of the Eudicots clade, which is just one step down from "flowering plants" e.g. not much in common at all :U

[ACACIA]

Broadleaf Privet. Horrible weed. Have turned heaps green for practice,

388882 Phil
Hi Phil
thanks for the ID of this tree ---looks a lot like some Aussie Eucalyptus --weird scent on fruit-mini -grapes ---common here in East Africa

can you give me any more data --uses /distribution of this tree?IF---
its got nice color /grain ----will try turning a dry log --
many thanks to all who replied ----
will send more fotos of turned wood
regards-ACACIA

[ACACIA]

Thanks Ted

what color is the seasoned--wood--? light brown ?
will cut this tree down ( storm damaged)
and give it a go ----
appreciate
ACACIA

[turnerted]

The seasoned wood is white .
Ted

[pommyphil]

These where all turned wet, no sanding,no finish very thin and no cracking. Yes cut them down and turn them, great fun.

The fruit are toxic to wildlife. Phil389064

[ACACIA]

That's great news ---so it can be turned !

those goblets never cracked?? wet wood ---that is astounding
(all the wet heavy dense iron wood lamp bases & bowls I made from teak ironwood cracked!
UMTAMBOTIE----Spistachys Africana-- the undisputed king of African hardwoods ---very dense /astounding color & grain ---bulldozed /destroyed-/discarded---for sugar plantations!!!sad but true
smells lot like sandalwood---overpowering wonderful- scent -----but sadly all objects cracked ---
even though they were waxed /oiled immediately-----

got to wait years for it to season--

heres a foto ---
many thanks to all ---

[artful bodger]

Nice goblets Phil. Don't often see folk turn them these days.

[Old-Biker-UK]

Broad-leaf / leaved Privet - Ligustrum lucidum W.T.Aiton [Oleaceae]
AKA - Large-leaf / leaved Privet; Chinese Privet; Chinese Wax Tree; Giant Privet; Glossy Privet; Smooth Privet; Tree Privet, Wax-leaf Privet

Royal Horticultural Society garden website says L. lucidum is a small evergreen tree with broadly oval, glossy leaves to 15cm in length, and small, creamy-white flowers in panicles to 15cm in length in summer and early autumn followed by black or deep purple berries.
Bit more info on Wikipedia, Chinese medicinal uses etc.

Mark

[ACACIA]

----- Hi----Can syringa---or china berry---or white ash --as it is called ---amongst other names
(A pest invader in Africa-&_( Everywhere else---)----be turned into any useful objects??---bowls etc?

wonder if it has decent color grain ?---
have cut down a large syringa ----died -from drought -----light pale wood it seems --anyone had good results??

thanks ACACIA

?

[Richard Hodsdon]

Acacia, Syringa(Melia azedarach)is an excellent turning wood, also called poor mans oak, heartwod pinkish red ans easy to work.
You need to get hold of the book just published by Briza ; Southern African Wood by Dyer, James and James. It has a some 140 woods writeup, with comments by local turners and woodworkers.
Richard