Where is radiata pine in australia

Radiata pine Pinus radiata was originally named Pinus insignis or 'remarkable pine', an apt name for a tree which has had such a dramatic impact on the world timber scene.

It is a tree which is suited to a considerable range of growing conditions, is easily raised and planted, and provides larger yields of usable timber in a shorter time than many native species. The timber is particularly useful: it can be readily sawn, peeled, or converted to pulp, has good nail-holding power, works well, can be easily stained, and when treated with preservatives, is suitable for long-life applications in the ground.

Radiata pine is a softwood tree, which means the wood does not have pores and has long fibres tracheids compared to hardwoods. However, the name softwood is confusing because radiata pine is harder denser than many hardwoods such as balsa and poplars. Radiata pine is a native of North America, growing naturally in three localities: a narrow stretch of coast in Southern California and two small islands off the coast of Mexico.

However, the species is now one of the most widely grown exotic timber species in the world, covering 3. In its native habitat around Monterey in California, the tree is seldom taller than 35 metres or older than 75 years, and many trees are misshapen or affected by disease. Preservation: plantation trees have a high proportion of sapwood, which readily impregnates with commercial preservative. Seasoning: to avoid distortion, framing sizes should be dried using high temperatures; boards may be air-dried or kiln-dried at conventional or high temperatures.

Hardness: soft rated 5 on a 6-class scale to indent and work with hand tools. Machining: machines, and turns well, but keep planer blades sharp to avoid surface ridging. Fixing: nails may occasionally follow the growth rings; use nail guns for good results. Gluing: glue can absorb differently between earlywood and latewood, but this rarely causes problems. Finishing: readily accepts paint, stain and polish. Identification features General characteristics Sapwood: pale yellow.

Heartwood: reddish brown, varying to shades of yellow. Texture: non-uniform, consisting of alternating bands of earlywood and latewood; straight grain; knots usually present in constructional timber grades. Wood structure Growth rings: clearly visible, latewood forms a dense dark band; false rings are rare; abrupt transition from earlywood to latewood.

Vessels: absent. Resin canals: numerous, prominent as lines, on dressed longitudinal surfaces. Your kitchen is probably from boards processed from Radiata pine. The bark is rich in tannins, which is suitable for the manufacture of adhesives. If Radiata pine is treated with preservatives it is suitable for a long life in the ground or outside in the garden. In its natural habitat, Radiata pine is not grown for timber production since it has poor form and slow growth, yet it grows well in other countries like Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Spain.

Why do you think this is so? For more information, see Radiata pine - the remarkable pine. Radiata pine is a conifer or cone bearer. This species produces separate male and female reproductive structures i. The male cones are cylindrical The much larger female cones cm long and cm wide are borne on short stalks and are often clustered together.

They are lop-sided in shape, with the outer side of the cones being larger than the inner side. These female cones often remain unopened for some years and their glossy scales are greyish brown in colour, with a tiny prickle at the tip.