Curry Myrtle is mainly found growing in soft-scrub (Semi-evergreen vine
thicket) and stands of Bonewood and is easily identified by the sweet curry
smell of the leaves when crushed - I'm not into curries at all but it is an
unusually enticing smell.
Growing
to around 8 metres tall with trunks to around 200mm diameter, it's
appearance varies according to its location as these two examples show. At
left is a specimen among some remnant Bonewood on rocky ground while the
specimen at right is in rich soil in soft-scrub.
While the timber of the Curry Myrtle is moderately heavy, close grained,
attractively figured and machines nicely, it just doesn't stop cracking
until it's perfectly dry - and then it will have another go when you least
expect it! It also tends to burnish when sanding and takes a lot of oil to
build a good finish. Not a timber I'll be chasing a lot.
This piece sat on the workbench for nearly 2 years while I waited for it to
stop cracking. The support is carved from Norfolk Island Hibiscus and pinned
with Ebony dowels.
