Red Mallee
Introduction
Mallee is that the growth habit of certain eucalyptus tree species that grow with multiple stems springing from an associate underground lignotuber, typically to a height of no more than 10 m (33 ft). Red Mallee burl is a fantastic species of wood with vivid colors and figures. This native Australian timber contains a distinctive mixture of pink, red, and violet heartwood with a clearly differentiated white sapwood. The wood is tough, dense, and simply yields a smooth, sturdy finish with little effort on sanding. Incredible burl caps supply a range of natural creative palettes for any artisan. Burl squares and bowl blanks have tight figures and colors that are ideal for bowls, spindles, turned boxes, knives, and different fine particles. Burl's eyes could develop incursions however are typically very tiny and restricted to the wood. The Red Mallee Burl (Eucalyptus oleosa, E. socialis) is prized for its spirited color and serious concentration of burl eyes. mallee trees are rural area vegetation that's common in several components of Australia and has dozens of types. Thus, eucalyptus woodlands and shrublands are thought of as one among Australia's major vegetation groups. The trees are prolific producers of burl growths that may be harvested while not cutting down the tree, that is why you ordinarily see Australian burls in cap kind.
Some striking features of the Red Malle are that this wood has spirited colors mixed with burl eyes and distinctive grain patterns, this wood may be used to turn hollow vessels or candle bases, it may be resawed to form one-of-a-kind bottle stoppers, and last however not the least thanks to the character of the wood movement, shrinkage and expansion are quite possible.
Besides the standard health risks associated with any sort of wood dust, no additional health reactions are associated with Red mallee, though many different species of the Eucalyptus genus are reportable to cause varied hypersensitivity.
The term mallee refers to a species’ general growth kind (known as a “habit” in biology). usually smaller and shorter than trees, mallees grow multiple smaller-diameter stems from a standard scheme. Thanks to this, most eucalyptus tree species are ill-suited to lumber, though they do have a property for burl growths which is able to be harvested and used for small} scale turning and various tiny specialty projects. These projects include pen blanks, bowls, vases, knife grips, etc.
Specification
Common name
Eucalyptus oleosa is usually referred to as the red mallee, glossy-leaved red mallee, acorn mallee, oil mallee, or giant mallee, that may be a tree or eucalyptus that is native to Australia.
Scientific name
Eucalyptus oleosa and E. socialis
Distribution
The species extends east into most of southern and central South Australia and so into northern and eastern Victoria and southwestern New South Wales south of Coonbah and west of Koraleigh.
Tree size
This tree will age to a height of concerning 13-26 foot (4-8 m) tall with a trunk diameter of 1 ft ( .3 m ).
Dried weight
The average dried weight of this wood is about 66 lbs / ft3 (1,050 kg/m3).
Color and Appearance
Heartwood ranges from pink to orangish-red. This wood has a pale yellow to gray sapwood that is sharply demarcated from heartwood. This type of wood is nearly continuously seen in burl kind than in planks or lumber form.
Grain and texture
The red mallee has unique grain patterns that could vary from straight to interlocked grains. Care should be taken while operating with the interlocked grain areas because the risk of tear-out will occur. This wood contains a medium to coarse texture.
Workability:
As this wood contains a medium to coarse texture it's quite tough to work with this wood. It will have blunting effects on machines and tools. This is a hard and dense wood yet it yields almost a smooth durable finish with very little effort on sanding.
Odor
This wood does not produce any characteristic odor even while harvesting or while working with this wood.
Availability
These types of wood are most commonly available in burl caps and sawn burl blocks. Prices are on par with various foreign solid-wood burl products. This wood species has not been listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of vulnerable species.
Common Uses
Incredible burl caps supply a natural creative palette for any artisan. Burl squares and bowl blanks have tight figures and colors that are ideal for bowls, spindles, turned boxes, knives, and alternative fine particles. Turned objects, knife and gun grips, and little specialty objects. The leaves were once harvested for the production of cineole based eucalyptus oil. Other than eucalyptus oil production, E.oleosa is additionally appropriate to provide massive amounts of biomass, able to build ten to twenty metric tons ( 11 to twenty-two short tons ) per hectare each year. In Wheatbelt regions, it's additionally helpful because the tree can scale back salinity, offer shade to stock, act as a shelterbelt, and scale back erosion.
The seeds are sold for cultivation as a plant. The seeds germinate simply and also the plant is understood to be terribly hardy in addition to salt, drought, and frost resistance. It is used as a hedge plant, shade tree, and for honey production.
Frequently asked questions
What is red mallee burl?
Mallee is that the growth habit of certain eucalyptus tree species that grow with multiple stems springing from an associate underground lignotuber, typically to a height of no more than 10 m (33 ft). Red Mallee burl is a fantastic species of wood with vivid colors and figures. This native Australian timber contains a distinctive mixture of pink, red, and violet heartwood with a clearly differentiated white sapwood. The wood is tough, dense, and simply yields a smooth, sturdy finish with little effort on sanding. Incredible burl caps supply a range of natural creative palettes for any artisan. Burl squares and bowl blanks have tight figures and colors that are ideal for bowls, spindles, turned boxes, knives, and different fine particles.
How to identify Australian eucalyptus?
On through examination of the eucalyptus tree one can identify it with the help of its peculiar shaped leaves.. Eucalyptus leaves are long and pointed with smooth sides and a leathery texture. Under a magnifying glass, one will be able to see the glands throughout the leaves that secrete oil. Careful exploration of the branches of the tree will give us more ideas about the tree.
References
https://www.wood-database.com/red-mallee/
https://www.cookwoods.com/collections/red-mallee-burl
https://www.woodcraft.com/products/australian-red-mallee-burl-turning-blank-2kg-4kg
