Another Timber unknown

[dai sensei]

This is a tree out at the macadamia farm I am milling at. Originally I thought it was a blackwood, as bark was very similar, but I took a slice today and found a lighter timber. Definitely a hardwood, similar to Blackwood in hardness.

Any ideas of what it might be? Sorry no leaves or flowers etc, tree has been down for over a year.

Thanks in advance

Cheers

[TTIT]

NFI . . . . . . but I'd like to know in case I haven't got it in the collection!

[cqvillas]

At first glance I thought it may be peltophorum, certainly looks similar to some I have at here.

Cheers,

[artme]

I have cut up some Very large callistemons and melaleucas that have similar appearance.

The bark can also look deceptively like blackwood bark. Timer in both cases was dense and hard.

Could be one of those maybe.

[Wizened of Oz]

Possibly Aphitonia excelsa, Red Ash or Soap Bush?

[dai sensei]

Thanks for the feedback

At first glance I thought it may be peltophorum, certainly looks similar to some I have at here.

Cheers,

Certainly could be some around growing, but the timber is not like the Poinciana/Flame trees I have seen from area.

I have cut up some Very large callistemons and melaleucas that have similar appearance.

The bark can also look deceptively like blackwood bark. Timer in both cases was dense and hard.

Could be one of those maybe.

Haven't seen any about. Bark not like any paperbark/bottlebrush I have ever seen either. The peeling bark may have giving that impression of a paperbark type, but that is just how it has dried, peeling off total thickness in strips/patches leaving the sapwood.

Possibly Aphitonia excelsa, Red Ash or Soap Bush?

Plenty about (and I have 2 earmarked for removal when I get back from trip), but no, bark is totally different and no distinctive colour difference in centre like the Red Ash I have cut in area.

[MAPLEMAN]

Was it planted (is it exotic) or is it native to the area?..MM

[artme]

Didn't say paperbark. I said melaleuca.

Not all Melaleucas have paperbark.

[dai sensei]

Was it planted (is it exotic) or is it native to the area?..MM

Sorry MM, I have no idea but assume native, didn't see it when dropped only now 1 year after. Trying to dig out some of the original photos of tree before degradation of bark

Didn't say paperbark. I said melaleuca.

Not all Melaleucas have paperbark.

Sorry ARTME, didn't think of others, always think flakey Tea-tree & paperbarks when someone says melaleucas. What species are you thinking about?

[dai sensei]

Ok dug out a photo a few weeks after tree was dropped. Not clear I am afraid, especially when you have this tree, a huge Crows Ash and 3 Camphor Laurels all dropped on top of each other. I've tried identifying the main branches, but can't help much with the leaves.

[artme]

Well, I retire from the contest!!

I've never seen either of my afformentioned species grow to that size.

The only other suggestion is that it is a birdshyte tree.

[dai sensei]

Looking at the original photo, not what it looks like now, I would have said it was just another Crows Ash. Certainly timber and hardness match, just bark is off I think, might have to have another look at upper branches when down there next on weekend.

That X-section photo is around 600mm dia.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

Must admit to not really having a clue. My only contribution is that (and I'm sure that you are already aware of this) Blackwood is sometimes very light in colour. In the 19th century it was also sometimes known as Lightwood.

[dai sensei]

Must admit to not really having a clue. My only contribution is that (and I'm sure that you are already aware of this) Blackwood is sometimes very light in colour. In the 19th century it was also sometimes known as Lightwood.

Actually I wasn't aware it could be light, every one I have seen around here has been very dark. I'm heading down again tomorrow with a few others, hopefully they may add some ideas.

[dai sensei]

Well just got back from farm after another session of hard yakka. I looked all over the tree remains and sliced it up, some for future milling into slabs/turning blanks, the remainder for firewood (for the farmer). It wasn't till I got high into the tree did I get a section that was classic Red Ash (photo) with spalted sapwood (yes future pen blanks). Brian you are on track.

So given it was a very hard timber and the rest having a colour more like Crows Ash, with bark similar to Red Ash but thinner like Crows Ash, could it be a hybrid? There are certainly a lot of both species around. I know you can get hybrids of eucalypts, but can you get them in Ash?

If it is a new hybrid species, typical, now it has now been cut down