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Bonewood
(Macropteranthes leichhardtii)
Also known as: ?
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Generally associated with 'Soft scrub' (semi-evergreen vine thicket), there is
not a lot of Bonewood left on the Central Highlands, mainly because it
doesn't regrow after clearing like most other species. There are a
couple of small pockets remaining on low country but most of what's
left is along the lower slopes of the sandstone outcrops where the
bulldozers gave up.
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Bonewood grows to around 7 or 8 metres high with trunks up
to 300mm diameter. The wood is very heavy, very hard and splits like
crazy even after it's sawn with the endgrain well sealed.
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While the timber machines OK, it is abrasive to your tool-steel and is
difficult to sand, tending to burnish easily. Wax finishes work OK on
it, but I found Bonewood absorbs a lot of oil before it builds a decent
sheen.
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Bonewood flowering in March/April.
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The colour of the timber seems to vary considerably, the bowl pictured
being from an older tree of about 220mm diameter which was on it's last
legs with some dry rot in the heart, contrasting strongly against the
lidded box pictured which was from a young tree of about 100mm
diameter.
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Natural edged bowl showing the sapwood colour.
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