Timber/Tree Identification please, in anticipation...

Evening Gents.

Well, we finally have possession of our new property at Somersby (Gosford) and would expect to take up residency within 5-6 weeks. We have a total of 14 acres with a nice 4-5 acre stand of fairly heavily-timbered land which is easily accessible and flat. The boundaries of the block are also well timbered with the balance (around 8-9 acres) being cleared.

The first task is to build a couple of nice big sheds - probably early next year pending the usual Council bureaucracies, DA process etc... and then I can proceed with the Lucas Mill purchase. The timber is a mix of Ironbark, Twisted Angophera, Monterey Pine and a lot of another Eucalypt which I'm not quite sure of - see images:

Attachment 280539Attachment 280540Attachment 280541

Not sure whether these images are good enough for a preliminary ID, but this tree is the most prolific Eucalypt on the property - there's a lot of them and some are quite big (up to 750mm diameter). Any help would be appreciated. The bark is not smooth, but it's nowhere as coarse as Ironbark or Stringybark. Also, and just as a matter of interest, many of the trees on the property have a significant lean as you can see... I'm thinking that there was a big storm came through a while ago.

Finally, what do you learned millers & loggers recommend as the most suitable species for rural fencing - rails, posts, stays etc?

Much appreciated in anticipation. Wayne

Hi Wayne,

It's some sort of Bloodwood but that's like saying 'gum tree'.

Can you take a photo of the leaves and any buds or nuts?

Cheers

Yes, thanks Berlin. I'll try to get some better photos of the foliage and any nuts/flowers in the next few days.

Wayne

Wayne

The middle picture looks a little like white/grey box, but as Matt says, more pix would be helpful of leaves ( juvenile and mature) buds, flowers etc..

As far as fencing is concerned it is important to distinguish between posts in the ground, which have to be far more durable than rails. The old standbys are ironbark and white mahogany, but I would be asking other landowners in your area what has be used traditionally. Good durable timber posts should last 40 years or more in the ground.

For rails, spotted gum is very good in the sawn form, but not in the round. Again see what other landholders have used successfully. I do stress the word "successfully."

Regards
Paul

Can't agree with Paul on the idea o Grey box. All the Grey box I have ever known has
much coarser and hairier bark. But then that was out in the Riverina and the
far south west of NSW.

Bloodwood sounds reasonable as a suiggestion.

'Box' is a loose term if ever there was one. I would not be the least bit surprised if that species is indeed called Grey Box up where Paul is and Black Box at the bottom of the hill and White Box ten k's further on :U.

In the book I've got, Bloodwood is a little more specific as a group, referring to trees with 'rough, short fibered bark persistent for the majority of the trunk'. Locally (Brisbane) all the bloodwoods I have info on are Corymbia spp. other than Gympie/Queensland/Yellow Messmate (also Dead Finish according to Forestry) which is Eucalyptus Cloeziana.

If it's Messmate you have, it is rated Class 1 for in-ground and above ground use.

Cheers
Matt

Given the location and your pics of the bark I can posit a few likely species. However you would need to find the fruits and/or flowers to get any closer than that. The suggestion of Corymbia gummifera (red bloodwood) seems reasonable but the bark does not look 'chunky' enough for that species. Are the upper limbs smooth barked and shedding in longish ribbons? If so I would think that E. pilularis or E. piperita are more likely candidates as the lower bark can often be short/fibrous like in your photos (Also given the height of the trees as C. gummmifera in the Sydney region tends to occur on low nutrient sandstone woodland). The only other suggestion based on the bark alone would be Angophora floribunda but I have not seen it in stands where it is the dominant species.

As I said...I think you need to find the fruits and or flowers to get a clearer idea. Leaves are only rarely usefull for distinguishing Eucalyptus/Corymbia/Angophora.

Many thanks guys. I'm going to try to get some more detailed images of the trees, leaves, flowers/fruit etc this weekend so that a better ID can be determined.

Paul, the requirements for fencing will include both posts & rails for the whole property - I understand the importance of the correct durability for in-ground requirements. The existing fencing is a mixture of timber and wire - most of it in poor shape generally. Not much help from the surrounding property owners on existing timbers. Some of them have had treated pine fencing installed and others who have hardwood posts have no idea what timber it is. There's no predominant style of rural fencing in the area. Some of it is split posts, some are sawn-square and a there's lot of round posts as well.

I'd like to think that there is some mahogany on the property, but to be honest I'm a little hazy on what the trees looks like - red or white. I'll have to have another look at TTits site, or any images from here would be appreciated. There is quite a bit of Ironbark on the property in various sizes so this will be quite useful.

Wayne

Sorry to take a while getting back here with some more images of this particular tree, guys. I'm now wondering if it could be White Mahogany and would again appreciate your invaluable input.

There are no flowers or buds yet, but I did get a couple of shots of the leaves from a few very low and juvenile limbs:

Attachment 282374 Attachment 282375 Attachment 282376

Here's a few more of what the bark typically looks like:

Attachment 282369 Attachment 282371 Attachment 282372

And another couple of full shots of the various trees:

Attachment 282373 Attachment 282377 Attachment 282378

And now have a look at this link to a fact sheet from Hornsby Council (not too far north of the property) on the White Mahogany:

http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/media/...e-Mahogany.pdf

What thinks you, gents? Again, thanks in anticipation.

Wayne

E. acmenoides seems possible. Did you get some nuts and have agood look at the bark? how does it compare with the fact sheet?

Ther is one other defining factor for white mahogany. It does not burn at all well. See if you can test this. The timber is also a pale orange/yellow colour

Quote:

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Originally Posted by artme

Ther is one other defining factor for white mahogany. It does not burn at all well. See if you can test this.

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But not the whole tree :D.

I tried to scan a sheet off a book, but my level of technology let me down and the reproduction was too poor. It probably saves me contravening copyright laws The juvenile leaves in Wayn'e pix look a little more rounded than my reference, but the fruits and nuts would be helpful.

I wish also to withdraw my suggestion of white/grey box. It ain't that!

Regards
Paul

E. acmenoides does sound like a good bet.

Here's a pic from my book showing the buds and nuts for when it flowers. Have a scout around for the baby plants (cotyledons) too, they should be about.
Attachment 282743

Cheers

I note from the HSC flyer you linked to that White Mahogany is considered of very high conservation value in your neck of the woods.

Yes, thanks Berlin.

The area generally has quite a few tree preservation zones, so I would't be surprised that this particular species (if that's what it is) is one of the conservation targets.

In any case we would certainly be careful in any selective logging that was done on our property, and would restrict all works to trees which are either standing deadwood (there's quite a bit) or others which have been affected by previous storms and have dangerous lean (also quite a few). There's also plenty of Monterey Pine and Camphor Laurel on the place so there's plenty to play with while I'm learning the ropes with the Lucas Mill.

Paul, I'm keeping my eye out for flowers and nuts on the trees but there seems to be nothing so far.

Regards - Wayne

:2tsup:
Yep, it looks like you'll have plenty to keep you busy Wayne. I'll be keeping an eye out for the outcome.

Cheers,
Matt