Red Coolibah
Introduction
The Red coolibah wood is alleged to supply one among the toughest and strongest timbers in the world. The coolabah tree is mentioned in an exceedingly renowned folk song referred to as the "Waltzing Matilda". This species is widely distributed over Northern Australia, commonly found on rivers and heavy soils of flood plains. Coolibah is pronounced as 'Cool-a-bah'. This species is outstanding in that it grows throughout a really large area of Australia, notably in arid and semi-arid regions, excluding Victoria and Tasmania. In these areas, it prefers to inhabit seasonally flooded stream banks and riverbeds. It has been grown within the Southwestern United States a few times, together with arid regions that may get quite cold.
It has a bark that may be smooth with white or grey coloration or rough and fibrous with grey to grey-black coloration. It has rough bark on half or all of the trunk, smooth powdery cream to pink bark above, lance-shaped to semicircular adult leaves, flower buds in teams of seven, and subfigure or cone like fruit. This premium exotic burl wood offers unmatched color and grain patterns. the color of the heartwood of this wood ranges from chromatic pink to darker brownness, and these colors enhance the wonder of the attention of this fabulous burl.
Some putting options that the red coolibah is known for are that it creates distinctive clocks, plaques, or base for carving comes, this wood has vivacious colors mixed with burl eyes, it conjointly has distinctive grain patterns, this wood may be used to turn a trendy platter and thanks to the character of the wood movement, shrinkage and expansion are possible. Lumber is usually not obtainable from these species of Eucalyptus, however, the burls are prized for their distinctive figure and color.
This wood is incredibly hard and dense so used to build durable pieces of the article. Indigenous Australians have conjointly found this tree helpful not just for its wood, but also for domestic functions. The trees have a dense, rounded form making them wind resistant and helpful as windbreaks and to manage erosion.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Coolibah has been rumored to cause a severe case of skin irritation. The employees ought to be supplied with proper kinds of equipment and well-ventilated areas to work in to confirm their safety. Citronellal, an essential oil found in most Eucalyptus species is rumored to be mutagenic once used in isolation. In giant doses, oil of eucalyptus, like such a lot of essential oils has caused fatalities from viscus irritation. Death is rumored from ingestion of four - twenty-four ml of essential oils, however, recoveries also are rumored for identical quantities. Symptoms embrace gastroenteric burning and irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gas deficiency, weakness, dizziness, stupor, tough respiration, delirium, paralysis, convulsions, and death, typically thanks to respiratory failure.
Specification
Common Name
This tree is also known as Coolibah, or Coolibah burl also referred to as Flooded Box and Western Coolibah
Scientific Name
Eucalyptus coolabah, Eucalyptus microtheca
Distribution
This tree is native to Australia. Coolibah is found in western New South Wales, central South Australia, the Kimberley region of Western Australia, western Queensland and southern to central parts of the Northern Territory, and New South Wales. The tree occurs on sometimes flooded heavy-soiled plains and banks of intermittent streams and creeks which will typically not flow usually enough to support the stream red gum, E. camaldulensis. small to medium tree that may grow large in optimum conditions. Tolerates flooding, heavy soils, alkaline soils, and a hot dry site. great shade tree on larger properties. It cannot grow within the shade. It prefers damp soil. The plant will tolerate maritime exposure.
Tree Size
This tree will grow up to a height of about 25-50 feet (8-15 m) tall with a trunk diameter of about 2-3 foot (.6-1 m) trunk diameter.
Average Dried Weight
The average dried weight of this wood is 68 lbs/ft3 (1,085 kg/m3),
Color and appearance
The color of the heartwood of this tree ranges from brown pink to darker reddish-brown. There is a skinny thin present that is of grayish-white color. The heartwood is far darker than the sapwood.
This wood is sort of continuously seen in burl type instead of in lumber type.
Grain and Texture
The grain is mostly interlocked. Care should be taken while operating with these as wood with interlocked grains may be a bit difficult to figure with. It will cause tear-out. This wood features a medium to a fine texture.
Odor
This tree does not emit any characteristic odor while harvesting or perhaps while operating with this wood.
Availability
This wood is sort of without any exception sold-out as burl caps or blanks. The price of this wood is extremely high and on par with most different imported Australian burls. This wood species is not listed within the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. This can be mainly because cutting the tree down is not necessary while harvesting burls that make this tree very sustainable.
Common Uses
This wood is often used for creating turned objects, knife and gun grips, inlay, and different tiny specialty things. The indigenous Australians used the wood to create spears, fire-making equipment, message sticks, coolamons (wooden dishes), and throwing sticks. they would additionally acquire water from the root wood.
The wood is remarkably hard, heavy, and elastic. so it is helpful in construction, though this wood is probably too hard for cabinet-work. It is used for the development of sturdy poles, fence posts, bearings, bolts, shafts, frames, and wheels. It is neither pretty much used nor valued. The wood is employed for fuel and to create charcoal. The trees have a dense, rounded form making them wind resistant and helpful as windbreaks and to manage erosion. They are one of the more commonly planted eucalyptus species within the southwestern United States since they're quick and simple to grow. These trees are able to tolerate full sun, stand up to temperatures below freezing and grow in soils with poor fertility makes them simple to grow.
The seeds are powdery and created into cakes that are baked and eaten up. Sap from the roots is used as an emergency supply of water for travelers through dry regions. The plant could be a supply of 'lerp' - a sweet, manna-like substance. Lerps are waxy scale-like coverings created by the immature stage (nymphs) of many species of sap-sucking insects. They function for protection while the nymphs are feeding and are left behind once the insect pupates. They were a conventional food of the Australian Aborigines.
References
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Eucalyptus+microtheca
https://www.wood-database.com/coolibah/