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    Species Information

Peppermint is generally a small tree less than 10 m tall, occasionally reaching 15 m and 0.5 m or more in diameter. The crown is rounded, dense and fine textured, with pendulous branchlets and leaves. The species can also be seen as a 2 to 3 m tall shrub. Peppermint occurs from just north of Perth in the sub-coastal strip, south to Cape Leeuwin, and east to beyond Bremer Bay. It is a common understorey tree in the wetter forests of the south-west, occurring in various forest associations. It may be the dominant species from open or low-closed forest to low open woodland, or in mixtures with Eucalyptus, Acacia or Melaleuca species in open scrub. It is a common understorey under tuart (E. gomphocephala) on sands over limestone, or found on sandy loams in valleys in jarrah/marri forest.

Wood description [more info]
Heartwood is light brown with some streaking of darker brown, and the sapwood paler. A subtle yet attractive grain.

Wood density [more info]
Green density is about 990 kg/m3, and air-dry density about 780 kg/m3

Shrinkage [more info]
Tangential and radial shrinkage are... per cent respectively.

Workability [more info]
Sharp tools are required as this species is hard when dressing. Dressing, sanding drilling and turning is rated as good, carving is fair.

Durability [more info]

Strength group and properties [more info]
Green and dry strength groups are (S5) and (SD5). The brackets indicate conservative provisional ratings based on the air-dry density. The more important strength properties based on strength group are given in the table below.

Property

Units

Green

Dry

Modulus of Rupture

MPa

58

78

Modulus of Elasticity

MPa

9100

12100

Max Crushing Strength

MPa

26

47

Hardness

KN

-

-

Uses [more info]
The timber has been used for craftwood and general purposes.

Availability [more info]
Limited availability from private property, because the species is not harvested from state forests.