AUSTRALIAN NATIVE HARDWOODS

The Common Names in Australian Hardwoods

Sometimes the common name we use for timber can refer to more than one species or can refer to several sub-species. Here are a few:

Red Ironbark 
E. Crebra - A woodland variety found west of the Dividing Ranges - often in native cypress belts. Medium height and size
E. Sideroxylon. Forest species found on east and north coast of Australia
(x2) Sub-species found in central Victoria and Gippsland
E. Fibrosa. Found broadly from coastal woodlands to dry sclerophyll forests inland.

Grey Ironbark - A term which refers to the outward appearance of tree  
E.Paniculata - Found in coastal forests of northern NSW
E.Drepanophylla - forest to woodland species; inland southern Qld
E. Siderophloia - coastal NSW

Spotted Gum 
Corymbium Maculata - coastal species found from near Eden NSW to Maryborough Qld.
Sub/sp Cory. Henrii - SE Qld
Corymbium Citriodora - this lemon-scented relation has always been milled as Spotted Gum in Qld mills. This darker contribution to the tonal mix has led to the NSW and Qld flooring products being distinguished from each other in the marketplace for the last decade.

Consumers have developed a fascination with names such as Messmate and Blackbutt, as their use in media increases. They are strange and evocative names. As appealing as the timbers they describe. But often names are not species names. They are Timber Product Names.