Silky Oak

Silky OakQueensland
Silky Oak (not a real Oak.... it's actually an Australian native
from the Grevillea family which grows in rainforest areas (and
many backyards) in Queensland; also known as Lacewood outside
Australia).
The Silky Oak is the largest tree in the Grevillea family which
consists of over 200 different types of tree.
Northern Silky Oak is a medium-sized to tall tree, growing
to 40 metres. The tree bears large, woody fruits - up to a size
of approximately 12 cm long by 8 cm wide.
Many other tree species are also marketed as "silky oak"
- thirty other tree species are listed on the Victorian Woodworker's
Association website under this common name.
Cardwellia sublimis (Northern Silky Oak) and Orites excelsa are
the two other most commonly cited species.
In the northern hemisphere, it was once a leading face veneer,
where it was marketed as "lacewood."
Queensland Silky Oak (not a real
Oak.... it's actually an Australian native from the Grevillea
family which grows in rainforest areas (and many backyards) in
Queensland; also known as Lacewood outside Australia).
The Silky Oak is the largest tree in the Grevillea family which
consists of over 200 different types of tree.
Northern Silky Oak is a medium-sized to tall tree, growing to
40 metres. The tree bears large, woody fruits - up to a size of
approximately 12 cm long by 8 cm wide.
Many other tree species are also marketed as "silky oak"
- thirty other tree species are listed on the Victorian Woodworker's
Association website under this common name.
Cardwellia sublimis (Northern Silky Oak) and Orites excelsa are
the two other most commonly cited species.
In the northern hemisphere, it was once a leading face veneer,
where it was marketed as "lacewood."
During the years from the late 1950's to late 1970's, this tree
species was the mainstay of the norther
n
Queensland timber industry - making up to 15 percent of the total
mill intake.
Produces sawn wood of medium strength that is used for furniture,
packing cases, flooring, paneling, and plywood.
Beautiful divided foliage is silvery on the undersides. Bright
orange flowers occur in racemes to 15 cm long in spring.
Folige is large, deep green and fern-like (whitish beneath).
It is a fast growing tree that has been grown in many countries
around the world - for both its wood and flower (around November
& December horizontal clusters of fiery orange mass in the
branches).
Silky Oaks in flower in South East Queensland.