Thread: What kind of tree is this?

OK here are a few macro graphs. The enlargements are all the same mag

Firstly HFs tree.

Enlargement to about 1 tree ring across


The commonal garden ironbark,

Magalso ~1 tree ring across


Now Jarrah,

Mag to ~ 4 tree rings across


This is not definitive but it's starting to look more like IB than jarrah.

As has been suggested, I think this might be a Euc. crebra, narrow leaved ironbark, possibly a Euc sideroxylon, mugga ironbark, neither of which are native to your part of the world. Can you remember what coulour the flowers were? If they were white, it might be either species, if they were red, pink or orange-ish, then most likely to be the mugga ironbark. It was widely distributed as a hardy ornamental, and as we have many of your species planted as ornamentals over here on the east coast, it seems at least feasible you might have some of ours over there! Both species have ADDs in excess of 1000kg/m, and resist checking, but as has been previously mentioned, the checking can be a function of the growing environment (trees in gardens often get lots more water than they would in the bush) so if you do slab it up, dry it very carefully. Both species are good firewood! And the "fiddleback" you mention is likely to be the interlocking grain showing through on the sapwood. Hope this info is useful, and if its deemed incorrect, I'm happy to be shot at dawn by those more expert than I.

Regards,

joe

Originally Posted by buckscreek

As has been suggested, I think this might be a Euc. crebra, narrow leaved ironbark, possibly a Euc sideroxylon, mugga ironbark, neither of which are native to your part of the world. Can you remember what coulour the flowers were? If they were white, it might be either species, if they were red, pink or orange-ish, then most likely to be the mugga ironbark. It was widely distributed as a hardy ornamental, and as we have many of your species planted as ornamentals over here on the east coast, it seems at least feasible you might have some of ours over there! Both species have ADDs in excess of 1000kg/m, . . .

This stuff is definitely not 1000 kg/m^3, it's maybe 750?

Have made a small edit to my previous post re: density. My own experience with E sideroxylon was with a garden grown specimen which had relatively 'spongy" timber (relative to what you might expect from an ironbark) I suspect from being fast grown. As I said, happy to be shot at dawn....

The flowers were white. So I think that Mugga is one. I havnt milled it yet its' been too busy here. But when I do Ill post pics of the slabs.
Thanks for the help.
Oh and the timber is getting harder as it dries.

Hi Guys
I though I'd put my 2 bob in late in the discussion. The seed capsules in HF's photos, 5th December post, photo number 3, aren't typical of either crebra or sideroxylon. The valves (the pointy bits on the top of the seed capsule) of both ironbarks are either depressed or at rim level whereas the valves in HF's photo are exerted (they stick out). And the bark is more typical of a Stringybark than Ironbark.
http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eucalyptus~crebra Narrow leafed Ironbark
http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eucalyptus~sideroxylon Mugga Ironbark
Apart from that I don't know what it is, I dont think it's a West Aussie native. Bark too fissured for any variety of Jarrah.
Try this one.
http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eucalyptus~macrorhyncha Red Stringybark
The fruits is very close and the bark is typical of Red Stringy. What it's doing in WA though is a bit of a mystery.
Good luck.
Cheers Ken

I am well impressed by this search for the truth. Yes those nuts look the part and most people who have had experience of ironbark say it isnt hard or heavy enough.
Was stringybark timber used for anything?

Red stringy is probably the pick of the stringy barks. Straight grained and stable. Makes good weather boards and have seen som nice furniture made from it as well.

Hi from Ken again. I'm not online most of the time hence the slow responses. I'm living in a very isolated place in the Blue Mountains. If it is Red Stringy, and I'm still not sure, it has many uses depending on the quality of the grain. Saw it up stack it with seperators keep it damp for a while cover it up and wait and see. Stable ahard and durable and a great colour, but has a tendency to split in the ends of planks and as it isn't local, it may behave in an unpredictable manner.
Good luck.

Originally Posted by Benmanang

Hi from Ken again. I'm not online most of the time hence the slow responses. I'm living in a very isolated place in the Blue Mountains. If it is Red Stringy, and I'm still not sure, it has many uses depending on the quality of the grain. Saw it up stack it with seperators keep it damp for a while cover it up and wait and see. Stable ahard and durable and a great colour, but has a tendency to split in the ends of planks and as it isn't local, it may behave in an unpredictable manner.
Good luck.

Maybe you missed this, It's been milled - see here and here.