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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
|
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Max
Crushing Strength
|
MPa
|
26
|
47
|
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Hardness
|
KN
|
-
|
-
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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.
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