Peppermint

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.

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.