The Myrtle Family
Myrtle
| Scientific Name: | Umbellularia californica |
| Location: | coastal regions of southwest Oregon & central California |
| Dried Weight: | 40lbs/ft3 |
| Janka Hardness: | 1,270lbf |
| Crushing Strength: | 5,640lbf /in2 |
Myrtle has a heartwood that is light brown to gray or olive in color. The sapwood is a pale brown color. The grain is straight, interlocked, or wavy and it has a fine uniform texture. The end grain is diffuse-porous. The heartwood is rated as very durable in regards to decay, but the sapwood is rated as non-durable in regards to decay. Myrtle is easy to work with and stains, glues, and finishes well. Care must be taken when cutting as it can burn easy.
Tasmanian Myrtle
| Scientific Name: | Nothofagus cunninghamii |
| Location: | southeast Australia & New Zealand |
| Dried Weight: | 39lbs/ft3 |
| Janka Hardness: | 1,310lbf |
| Crushing Strength: | 7,160lbf /in2 |
Tasmanian Myrtle has a heartwood that is pink or light reddish brown. The grain is usually straight, but can be interlocked, wavy, or curly sometimes and it has a very fine uniform texture. The wood gives off a high natural lustre. The end grain is diffuse-porous. Myrtle is rated as non-durable to perishable in regards to decay. It is good to work with and responds very well to steam bending. The wood glues, stains, finishes, and turns superbly.