Thread: Another timber I.D.?

That looks like coconut palm tree.

Jim

Originally Posted by powderpost

That looks like coconut palm tree.

Jim

Cheers Jim! Looks like it might make look good woodturning it

Its definitely a palm (a monocot). Which palm? well that could be one of a number of palms which are exploited for wood.

The second photo clearly shows the marked gradation of the wood density and vascular bundles (the dark brown bits) from the psuedo bark & cortex to the core. Its most dense at the outer and less dense to almost pithy mush at the core.

Figure 3 at this link shows the structure of palm wood in cross section. ENH1212/EP473: Palm Morphology and Anatomy (ufl.edu) & a clearer image here - Geschichte (palmito-info.net)

Palm can be very dusty when worked and the dust from some palms can be quite problematic particularly the wood from "fishtail palms" in the Caryota genus. "The whole plant contains needle-like calcium oxalate crystals which if chewed or eaten can produce a burning sensation in the mouth. Skin contact can result in burning, itching and dermatitis." - Fishtail palm (Caryota) | Queensland Poisons Information Centre (health.qld.gov.au)

Exposure to the calcium oxalate is particularly irritating and a long term irritant as it is typically found as an insoluble crystal in plant stems - so very slow to disperse naturally in the skin etc. Its very common in the plant world ("dumb cane" - Dieffenbachias etc) and more familiar to us as the main cause of "kidney stones." Handling the seeds of fishtail palms with bare hands is the typical exposure. However exposure to palm wood dust is a potential and very significant hazard for wood workers, with stabilization minimizing the dust hazard somewhat but definitely not eliminating it.

H'mm, wonder how well it burns?

Hi RSD,

For what it is worth, the photo is of a bowl I made from a lump of coconut palm. It is about 270mm x 140 deep.

Jim


Coconut bowl.jpgCoconut bowl2.jpg

Looks like Black Palm. Used for axe handles etc on some pacific islands.

Originally Posted by Brett Hammond

Looks like Black Palm. Used for axe handles etc on some pacific islands.

agree