Thread: Norfolk Island Pine

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Neil

Your comments emphasise the difference between commercial timbers and the rest.

Many of the "boutique" timbers are really only of interest to the hobby woodworker or wood turner, but have a niche for that purpose. There are many reasons why a timber is not considered a commercial proposition and they ultimately come back to being non economic. Such reasons could include, but not be limited to, insufficient quantities, no application in the larger commercial world, difficulty in drying successfully and possibly unawareness of a timber if sufficiently uncommon.

Regards
Paul

Yes true, but keep in mind this thread Julie the OP is talking about 1 tree only

Originally Posted by dai sensei

Yes true, but keep in mind this thread Julie the OP is talking about 1 tree only

Noted: But it is a big one

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Norfolk Pine is not a timber with which I am familiar. However, out of interest I went looking for it in Bootle's book "Wood in Australia:" It wasn't listed. However I started browsing through the other pines listed and in particular the Bunya Pine. Then that took me to the Hoop Pine and as a footnote to the Hoop pine there was this entry.

"The Norfolk Island Pine. Araucaria heterophylla (Salisb.) Franco produces wood of similar appearance though it may not be quite as strong. It is used as a general purpose timber on Norfolk Island. It's strength grouping is provisionally S6,SD6."

I have quoted it exactly and I don't understand the reference to "Franco" unless that should have been in italics and is part of the name. Clearly as an Araucaria it is the same family. Hoop pine has slightly better characteristics than the Bunya Pine, but both are susceptible to blue stain during the drying process so that may be applicable to the Norfolk Pine too.

Regards
Paul

Paul,

‘Franco’ is the recognised name of the author of the botanical name heterophylla. In botanical nomenclature every species has the authority for the name quoted after it. It’s not a boast but to cover the situation where different authors may have used the same epithet for different species. That sometimes happened in the 19th century.
David (botanist).

Historically, part of the motivation for the settlement of Norfolk Is was that the Brits thought that the pines would make excellent masts for their ships. However, they found the timber too brittle and prone to snapping at the branch points.