Silky Oak????

[artme]

Next door neighbour was telling me about a tree tha was felled in Mt. Morgan (Qld ) some years ago.
This tree was measured at 32m in heght with a trunk diametre of close to 2M for the first 5 or so metres. The first 5 or 6 sections were , as he said, decent logs cut at 2.4M. The rest of the tree was also cut into similar lengths.

He never got to see the milled timber but remembers it being referred to as some sort of Silky Oak: he thought (Something) River silky Oak.

Just wonder if anyone could shed some light on this.

[SAISAY]

Silky oak(Grevillea Robusta) is the largest of the Grevillea Species.
Grevillea robusta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It has a gorgeous fleck when it is cut right. Cut wrong and it looks ho-hum.
40-50 years ago it was used as a construction timber, now it is much sought after for furniture etc.
Cheers
Wolffie

[artme]

Thanks Wolfie but I know about G. Robuta. One of my favourite timbers.

This was not a G. Robusta. That much the fellow was certain of.

[rustynail]

River oak, Bull oak and silky oak can all yield a good sized log. The common factor between the three is they have prominent medulary rays when quarter sawn. Hence their oak names, though none are a true oak.

[artme]

You are correct rustynail. Many species here are referred to as öak"because of the medullary rays that show up in brilliant flashes and figure when the logs are quarter sawn.

Northern Silky Oak Is a Carwellia ( C. Subliminus ), southern SO is Grevillia Robusta.I have heard tthe Dorrigo Waratah called Dorrigo Silky Oak.

I tcan be both confusing and frustrating.