Myrtle
Member of the beech family, it is found in any of the wetter regions of the state. The timber has a rich red, brown and sometimes orange hue.
Myrtle (Nothofagus Cunninghamii) belongs to the same family as the beeches of Europe.
It is found in any of the wet forests across Tasmania, more frequently in the north west and west of the State. Providing conditions are moist and sheltered, the tree flourishes from sea level to the tree line.
Myrtle is a striking wood with rich red, brown, and almost orange tones. It?s believed the richness of colour comes from the quality of the soil it grows in. The deepest red myrtle comes from highly fertile soils on basalt.
The colour is vibrant, combining subtle variations in tone with the texture and sheen of wavy and fiddleback features to produce a surface alive with character and individuality.
While a pale and pink myrtle resource is readily available, commercial production concentrates on the deeper red variety.
It is a close grained species with well defined annual rings but with little latewood.
Architects and furniture makers prize myrtle, partly because it is capable of taking a high gloss finish.
It is used as a solid veneer in high quality furniture, joinery and cabinet making, as flooring and feature paneling in homes and offices, or as a striking finishing timber for cornices, architraves and skirting.
Commercial producers enjoy working with red myrtle because the fine aesthetic qualities of the wood are matched by its working properties.
It is particularly easy to work and makes excellent veneer.
It has further applications for craft workers. Myrtle turns well and traditionally has been used for spindle turning and bowls. Craft workers particularly favour burls and knotty wood.
Myrtle regenerates continuously in the absence of fire, growing in openings in the stand, providing conditions are moist and sheltered.
In exposed areas myrtle can be susceptible to insect and fungal attack which damage the timber and kill the tree, making it unsuitable for growth in plantations.
As a consequence, future supplies of myrtle will come from selective harvesting of forests grown on longer rotations.