Thread: A wood question for Bob L

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

Can you provide some clarification as to the cause of the markings?

I have seen this pretty often and knew it was a fungal effect.

I just did a search of teh web and FWIW the fungus is called Fistulina hepatica or beefsteak or Ox tongue fungus. It causes brown dry rot in trees. Severe infections on weak trees can kill them whereas on healthy trees they fight back with kino (resin) and the net effect is it produces dark brown streaks "or radial flecks on end-grain and boat-shaped flecks on flat sawn surfaces. The markings enhance the appearance of the timber".

Thank you very much Bob. Is it still refered to as swamp jarrah?

Bob.

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

Thank you very much Bob. Is it still refered to as swamp jarrah?

Bob.

I've never heard it called that before although those fungii are more likely to be found in wetter areas.

No such thing as swamp jarrah to my knowledge. In the timber you have shown is what all the furniture guys down here call "black spot" and they go mad for it. It is caused by a fungal disease after the tree has been attacked by insects but decide to nick off. Black spot is commonly seen in the very base of butt logs in heavy loam soils. A good sign that a jarrah tree will have black spot is the root ball will protrude from the soil, kind of like a burl figure so to speek. The further up the tree insects attacked in the early stages of its life, the further the fungal attack can occur. Some old fellas down here say that that is how birdseye comes about depending on how stressfull environment the tree is growing in but who is to say. It is also said that if you come across a birdseye tree, within 100 yards you will find another

Maybe then it was just a nickname used by a few people. Yesterday I contacted the bloke I studied with at WAIT, a carpenter/joiner by trade, and he said he had always known it as swampy jarrah. I would have adopted the name as a result.

Thanks again for the replies Bob and Nifty.

Bob T