Timber species characteristics

Over 16 hardwood native tree species are grown for timber in the Super Forest Plantations. This table outlines the timber characteristics of these species.

Super Forest Plantation’s Species – TIMBER CHARACTERISTICS
Super Forest Plantation’s Species – TIMBER CHARACTERISTICS
		COLOUR	DENSITY	DURABILTY	STRENGTH GROUP	SHRINKAGE	LYCTID BORER
No.	SPECIES	Heartwood (H)	Green (GD)	CLASS	Green (S)	Radial (R)	SUSCEPTBILITY
		Sapwood (S)	Air Dry (ADD)		Seasoned (SD)	Tangential (T)	Yes/No
1	E. acmenoides	H: Yellow-Brown	GD: 1200 kg/m³	1	S2	R: 3.5%	NO
	White Mahogany	S: Noticably Paler	ADD: 1000 kg/m³	Very Durable	SD3	T: 6.0%
	Other Properties	Slow to dry, little degrade or collapse, grain usually interlocked, narrow sapwood (<20mm). Heavy engineering construction, poles, sleepers, shipbuilding, fence posts
	& Uses
	PAGE: 305
2	E. cloeziana	H: Yellow-Brown	GD: ? kg/m³	2	S2	R: 3.5%	NO
	Gympie Messmate	S: Slightly Paler	ADD: 1000 kg/m³	Durable	SD3	T: 6.0%
	Other Properties	Easy to dry, Negligible collapse, grain slightly interlocked. General construction, poles, sleepers, bridges, etc.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 314
3	E. grandis	H: Pink to Pale Red-Brown	GD: 950 kg/m³	3	S3	R: 4.0%	NO
	Flooded Gum	S: Slightly Paler	ADD: 685 kg/m³	Moderately Durable	SD4	T: 7.0%	Resistant
	Other Properties	Easy to dry & work, Inclined to surface check, grain straight, prone to splitting, prone to cossid moth. Panelling, joinery, furniture, general construction. Density increases with age, less mature wood only suitable for internal uses.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 282
4	E. microcorys	H: Yellow-Brown	GD: 1230 kg/m³	1	S2	R: 4.0%	YES
	Tallow wood	S: Noticably Paler	ADD: 990 kg/m³	Very Durable	SD2	T: 6.0%
	Other Properties	Slow to dry, Negligible collapse, grain often interlocked, complete absence of gum veins, pin hole borer marks common. Heavy engineering structures, poles, sleepers, bridges, wharves, flooring, cladding, sills, piles, crossarms, fence posts. Greasy feel to wood, hard to glue, good resistance to surface checking when exposed to weather.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 359
5	E. pilularis	H: Pale Brown	GD: 1100 kg/m³	2	S2	R: 4.0%	NO
	Blackbutt	S: Distinctively Paler	ADD: 900 kg/m³	Durable	SD2	T: 7.0%
	Other Properties	Difficult to dry, prone to surface check, grain straight, gum veins common, reconditioning not advisable. Poles, sleepers, flooring, building framework, structural plywood. Regrowth subject to more bow & spring & central core has considerable collapse than mature stems.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 251
6	E. resinifera	H: Dark Red	GD: 1150 kg/m³	2	S2	R: 4.0%	YES
	Red Mahogany	S: Distinctively Paler	ADD: 950 kg/m³	Durable	SD3	T: 6.0%
	Other Properties	Dries with little degrade if well stacked, negligible collapse, good for painting as little surface checking. Flooring, cladding, panelling, general construction, sleepers, poles. Grain slightly interlocked, can be ‘ebonised to rich black by treatment with ferric chloride, pin hole borer common.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 303
7	E. saligna	H: Pink to Pale Red-Brown	GD: 1170 kg/m³	3	S3	R: 5.0%	YES
	Sydney Blue Gum	S: Slightly Paler	ADD: 850 kg/m³	Moderately Durable	SD3	T: 9.0%
	Other Properties	Easy to dry, Surface checking on tangential surfaces, Little collapse, Heart-centre splits severely no good for girders. General construction, cladding, flooring, panelling, boat building, potential for heavy furniture & plywood. Relatively easy to work.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 278
8	E. siderophloia	H: Pale Brown to Dark Brown to Dark Red	GD: 1210 kg/m³	1	S1	R: 4.5%	NO
	Grey Ironbark	S: Slightly Paler	ADD: 1120 kg/m³	Very Durable	SD1	T: 7.5%
	Other Properties	Slow to dry, Needs careful handling to avoid surface checking. Heavy engineering structures, poles, sleepers, bridges, wharves, flooring, decking, cladding, sills, piles, crossarms, fence posts. Hard to work due to density.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 288
9	E. moluccana	H: Pale Yellow Brown	GD: 1170 kg/m³	1	S2	R: 3.5%	NO
	Grey Box	S: Distinctively Paler	ADD: 1120 kg/m³	Very Durable	SD2	T: 7.5%
	Other Properties	Slow to dry, Not prone to surface checking. Heavy engineering structures, poles, sleepers, bridges, wharves, piles, crossarms, fence posts, excellent fuel wood. Difficult to work due to density.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 256
10	E. propinqua	H: Red	GD: 1240 kg/m³	1	S1	R: 7.0%	NO
	Grey Gum	S: Distinctively Paler	ADD: 1080 kg/m³	Very Durable	SD2	T: 4.5%
	Other Properties	Slow to dry, Little degrade in drying, Prone to grub holes. Heavy engineering structures, poles, sleepers, fence posts.Difficult to work due to density.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 279
11	E. tereticornis	H: Red	GD: 1200 kg/m³	2	S3	R: 5.0%	NO
	Forest Red Gum	S: Distinctively Paler	ADD: 1050 kg/m³	Durable	SD3	T: 8.0%
	Other Properties	Easy to dry, Little degrade in drying, Prone to grub holes. Heavy engineering structures, machinery bearings, poles, sleepers, fence posts. Can be difficult to dress.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 281
12	L. confertus	H: Pinkish Grey to Red Brown	GD: 1160 kg/m³	3	S3	R: 5.0%	NO
	Brush Box	S: Distinctively Paler	ADD: 900 kg/m³	Moderately Durable	SD3	T: 10.0%
	Other Properties	Difficult to dry, Can distort severely. Flooring, cladding, panelling, mallets, pulley blocks, bridge decking in dry areas. Not easy to work due to density, interlocked grain & presence of silica,very resistant to wear.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 255
13	S. glomulifera	H: Reddish Brown	GD: 1130 kg/m³	1	S3	R: 6.0%	NO
	Turpentine	S: Distinctively Paler	ADD: 930 kg/m³	Very Durable	SD3	T: 12.0%
	Other Properties	Slow to dry, Some checking & collapse. Marine piling (bark on), poles, sleepers, shipbuilding, wharve & bridge decking, flooring, panelling, general construction. High silica blunts blades, Silica & nature of extractives make it resistant to marine organisms.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 363
14	C. Citriodora sub. variegata	H: Pale Brown to Dark Brown	GD: 1150 kg/m³	2	S2	R: 4.5%	YES
	Spotted Gum	S: Distinctively Paler	ADD: 950 kg/m³	Durable	SD2	T: 6.0%
	Other Properties	Care in drying to reduce checking. Heavy engineering structures, piles, poles, flooring, plywood, agricultural machinery, shipbuilding, high impact handles. Easy to work.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 284
15	C. gummifera	H: Dark Red	GD: 1150 kg/m³	1	S3	R: 3.0%	YES
	Red Bloodwood	S: Distinctively Paler	ADD: 900 kg/m³	Very Durable	SD3	T: 4.0%
	Other Properties	Easy to dry, does not move around much, concentric gum veins can open up. Heavy engineering structures, piles, poles, fence posts, decorative panelling. Relatively easy to work, very prone to concentric gum veins.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 284
16	C. Intemedia	H: Dark Pink	GD: 1150 kg/m³	1	S3	R: 3.0%	YES
	Pink Bloodwood	S: Distinctively Paler	ADD: 900 kg/m³	Very Durable	SD3	T: 4.0%
	Other Properties	Easy to dry, does not move around much, concentric gum veins can open up. Heavy engineering structures, piles, poles, fence posts, decorative panelling. Relatively easy to work, very prone to concentric gum veins.
	& Uses
	PAGE: 284

Reference – Bootle, K.R., 2001, ‘Wood In Australia – Types, properties & uses’, McGraw-Hill, Australia.