Tuckeroo (Carrotwood to us Yanks)

**Chris Moore** · 15th December 2003, 12:48 AM

Good morning to all my fellow woodworkers in Oz.

I am so glad I found this site! I have a question which I suspect you may have been asked many times, but my searching of the forum archives turned up only one reference.

I live in south Florida in the USA. We have a subtropical (actually nearly true tropical) climate. An Australian species of tree, known locally as "carrotwood", but which I think is called "tuckeroo" in Australia, grows widely here -- primarily as a landscape specimen but also naturalized to both disturbed and undisturbed areas. Specifically, the variety here is Cupaniopsis anacardioides. It was planted here beginning several years ago but has since been classified as a "pest" or "weed" variety by the Florida Department of Agriculture because without natural controls it has become invasive and is choking out many native species. Of particular concern is the invasion of the mangrove thickets because the native mangroves are the primary purification mechanism for groundwater and runoff. The State of Florida has put in place an eradication program that calls for the cutting and destruction of all carrotwood trees on public lands as well as requiring private land owners to eradicate the species from their properties within 5 years.

Needless to say, that means there is a good bit of this wood available for "urban timbering." However, to this point I've been unable to find any information on the characteristics or uses of tuckeroo. Can anyone fill me in? It seems very heavy and dense (although that may be little more than my chainsaw needing to be sharpened

). It seems similiar to boxwood when fresh cut. It also seemed to me to be much like native perssimon wood (a north american variety of ebony that is incredibly hard, dense, and straight grained) or dense fruit woods like pear or apple. Is this a wood that is useful in ornamental woodworking? Does it turn well? What are its uses - if any - in Austalia? How does it respond to tools? How does it finish?

I know that's a rapid fire list of questions, but I do hope that you guys can help me find out more about this remarkable wood. It just seems such a waste to let so much wood be mulched or burned if there's something that we woodworkers can do with it.

**glenn k** · 15th December 2003, 02:34 AM

The sticky red pulp in the fruit is believed to have been an Aboriginal delicacy.
The hard pink timber is used for building in Australian country areas.
Sorry but I live far south of its range and have never seen the wood. Perhaps the wood collectors association would have more idea.

**Arron** · 16th December 2003, 10:02 PM

Chris, I dont think you are going to get much response to your questions. Tuckeroo ('cupania') is avalable commercially in this country either seldom or never.

I checked the two local specialty timber stores online and neither lists tuckeroo. I do remember seeing it once in a specialty wood store, but I have not seen it since.

I also checked my reference 'a field guide to Australian trees' which doesnt describe the timber, which usually indicates it is not commercially significant.

Some of the Queenslanders on this board might have some experience with it - it is quite a common ornamental in the north. There isnt much chance of most of us encountering it though.

Arron

**Chris Moore** · 17th December 2003, 01:34 PM

I truly appreciate you guys taking the time to look into this unusual wood for me. Looks like I'm just going to take some time to experiment with it. I have several trunks 12" in diameter and about 8' long. I think I'll seal the ends of some, slab out a couple, and rough out the rest to see how it responds to kilning. I'll let you know how it works out... and I'll be sure to post photos of any projects that I make of it.

Once again, thanks and if you are ever in the States, please come on by for a cold beer.

**John Saxton** · 17th December 2003, 08:51 PM

Chris,The only reference I can find to Cupania is in a book I have readily regarded as a good reference being "Wood in Australia" by Keith R Bootle.

This book refers to Cupania as Tamarind,a small hardwood,heartwood pale pinkish brown.Texture medium and even. Grain straight.
ADD about 850 kg/ cubic metre.
Easy to work and carve. I nclined to split in nailing.
Okay in Joinery,turning, and carving.

Hope this is of some help to you.
Happy Holidays.
Cheers

**Chris Moore** · 18th December 2003, 03:23 AM

Thanks, Johnno. That info is a good bit of help and I am going to order a copy of that book. We have a number of Australian species growing here in south Florida, many of which have become invasive and been declared "weeds." The most common is the carrotwood (tuckeroo), melaleuca, and Australian pine. With all that free timber just waiting to be utilized, it's time that I learned more about the potential uses of all our imported Australian species.

Hope I can return the favor one day soon.

**Garry1953** · 19th December 2003, 08:31 AM

Below are a few links that has a bit of info for you.
I hope it helps.

Tuckeroo Info

Another link

**paul snape** · 27th December 2003, 02:52 PM

The cupania listed in Bootles book Wood in Australia is Foambark or Pink Tamarind. This species of timber I have cut quite a few times .
This is not Carrotwood or Tuckeroo.
In the years that I have been milling timber here on the north coats of NSW (35 years )I can not remember ever milling a Tuckeroo , When found they are just left in the scrub.
I have found out that they were milled at times , they were used as boards in making banana cases.
This does not mean that this was the only use of them as the mills of years ago , cut all species of now sort after timbers for banana cases.

**jamesy** · 29th December 2003, 10:51 PM

Chris

i think you will find Tuckeroo a quite unremarkable wood. I do a lot of work with bush revegetation and have never really seen a large enough tree that would produce much millable timber. They are a slow grower but as tough as boots and are an important food source for our native birds( probably the reason they are a problem in your home state).
I havn't ever cut one down for the above reasons and you'll probably not find any info on the timber properties
They have a lovely form but I have never seen a butt much bigger in diameter than 9inches or so.

So grab some, treat it as unstable and prone to severe checking and see what you come up with.

I have actually seen one take root in the fork of a fig tree(themselves noted for taking root in other trees)

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Tuckeroo (Carrotwood to us Yanks)

Thank you

Thanks Johnno

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