Vine wood?

[movay_2008]

I finished this incense stick burner last night which is made from what I thought was some sort of vine wood that I found in a creek near the Border Ranges here (Green Pigeon). The recent floods have made a good hunting ground for interesting bits of wood and crystals.It seems too hard for vine wood but it has a spectacular yellow heart wood. The base is coastal cypress. I must go back and invesigate more. I know that a lot of roots have quite a bit of yellow in them (why?).

NFS... one for the sweatheart.:B

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3319/3672591423_3f2a4a06a1.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3673395424_301c242a49.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2451/3673399682_09a2e487bd.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3330/3671685816_f37d2d48b6.jpg?v=0

[Billyboydes]

Very interesting shape, well done.

[Bob Whitworth]

The wood is very likely Cocks Spur Vine. It has a very yellow colour and it quite hard and can grow quite large. It has very malacious long and very sharp thorns. The inner bark is also used in bark paintings. Bob

[movay_2008]

You got it. I've seen plenty of Cocks Spur around and had forgotten about it. I've actually been feeling quite sedate today especially my muscles and digestion, this explains. :doh: DUST MASK!

Traditional uses
Australian Aboriginees used parts of E. vespertilio as a sedative, similarly to the use of some South American species of Erythrina that are employed for better and deeper sleep and to reduce anxiety. The roots and bark of many species exude a deep orange dye, which can be used for fabrics and artefacts. The wood is also used to make artefacts, especially of a spiritual nature. It is very soft and easy to carve. The powdered seeds have been employed as aphrodisiac and deliriant, but dosing is very unreliable and dangerous and should never exceed half a seed. It is also believed that they were used to fortify agave wines and maize beer. The bright orange to purplish seeds are also used to manufacture artefacts and jewelery. The leaves are sometimes eaten although they cause a mild sedation. Similarly the flowers are prepared as a tea to drink before bedtime to ensure a good nights sleep. 'Mulungu bark' which is derived from E.crista-galli is a potent sedative and muscle relaxant.

http://shaman-australis.com.au/shop/index.php?cPath=21_34_74

[movay_2008]

I don't recall it being a vine though. I actually had a cock spur (Coral tree) growing in the front yard of a house I lived in for some years. It was a full tree. So maybe it was a root. I'll check it out. There are shrubs of the same variety.