Cypress Pine - Scientific name
Callitris glaucophylla. Family Cupressaceae.
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Local names
Cypress pine, western cypress, cypress.
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Description and natural occurrence
This tree reaches a height of up to 25 m and a stem diameter of 0.3 to 0.6 m. Its bark is dark grey, hard and deeply furrowed. The foliage is grey-green and the trees are typically conical in shape.
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White cypress has a widespread natural occurrence extending from central western Queensland to Victoria through most of the western New South Wales. Its major commercial forest occurrence is in the Tambo-Dalby-Inglewood region of southern Queensland and in the Baradine-Narrabri and Cobar districts of northern New South Wales.
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Sawn timber is readily available.
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Wood appearance
Colour. The heartwood varies from light to dark yellow brown and the sapwood is creamy white.
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Grain. Very fine with an even texture and generally straight. Knots are common.
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Wood properties
Density. 675 kgm3 at 12% moisture content; approximately 1.5 m3 of seasoned sawn timber per tonne.
Strength groups. S5 unseasoned; SD6 seasoned.
Stress grades. F4, F5, F7 (unseasoned), F4, F5, F7(seasoned), when visually stress graded in accordance with AS 2858-1986, Timber - softwood - visually graded for structural purposes.
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Joint groups. J3 unseasoned; JD3 seasoned.
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Shrinkage to 12% MC. 2.6% (tangential); 2.4% (radial).
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Unit shrinkage. 0.26% (tangential); 0.22% (radial).
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Durability above-ground. Class 1 - life expectancy over 40 years. Heartwood highly resisitant to decay when fully exposed to the weather.
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Durability in-ground. Class 2 - life expectancy 15 to 25 years. Heartwood moderately resistant to decay when used in the ground.
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Lyctine susceptibility. Not susceptible.
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Termite resistance. Resistant.
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Preservation. Sapwood and heartwood are both very resistant to commercial preservative impregnation.
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Seasoning. Dries quickly although restriction of the drying rate during the early stages is necessary to avoid fine surface checking. Rarely distorts during drying.
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Hardness. Firm (rated 4 on a 6 class scale) in relation to indentation and ease of working with hand tools.
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Machining. Can be satisfactorily machined and turned to smooth surfaces.
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Fixing. Seasoned timber may require pre-drilling when hand nailing but machine nailing with shear point nails is satisfactory. Unseasoned timber generally nails well using either method but pre-drilling may be necessary when hand nailing close to ends of boards.
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Gluing. Can be satisfactorily bonded using special techniques, e.g. slightly roughening surfaces and increasing open assemble times.
Finishing. Will readily accept paint, stain and polish.
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Uses
Construction. Used as sawn timber (usually unseasoned) in general house framing, fascias, barge boards and fencing. Also used for cladding, flooring, linings and joinery.
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Decorative. Internal quality furniture, outdoor furniture, turnery, joinery, carving, parquetry flooring.
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Others. Beehives, oyster stakes, jetty piles (low salinity river or canal situations).
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Identification features
General characteristics
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Sapwood. Creamy white, distinct from heartwood.
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Heartwood. Light to dark yellow brown.
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Texture. Very uniform with some figure and numerous knots.
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Wood structure
Growth rings. Indistinct.
Vessels. Absent.
Rays. Indistinct.
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Other features
Burning splinter test. Burns well leaving a white ash.
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Odour. Distinctive and characteristic.
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