A wood challenge

[Bryan Milham]

I was give a branch of wood about a year ago, and just decided to have a go at taking a couple of bits of fruit out of it. They are not fully polished yet but I though it might be fun to see if anyone can identify the wood.

The grey colours in it are completely natural. I'm not worried about the cracks and fissures they are part of how it grows. I would know, as I've sat in a few as a kid.

It turns remarkable well now dry for a timber I know to be so very brittle (worse than horse chestnut). Not native to the UK but can be seen growing in some older and bigger houses occasionally.

I do know what it is of course.

So what's your guess?

[Mark Sanger]

I could not possibly guess at what wood it is as I only turn about five.

[woodndesign]

Bryan,  When you say in older and bigger houses, is that as in a hothouse/orangerie/summer house type of plant.

Cheers   David

[Bryan Milham]

David, you are certainly thinking along the right lines.

Although I've normally seen then growing out of doors in sheltered spots more often (in UK) than in heated Orangerie's.

[ru55ell1]

Peach Tree Wood ?

[thebowlerhattedturner]

Bryan just a guess, is it some form of Peach?
Regards
john BHT

[Bryan Milham]

Fruit wood - yes

Peach wood - no

[woodndesign]

I'd have said Peach as a second option, as it's gone, my first was ... and third is .. but if more outside I've wondered if it's Fig, hope it's wrong so this thread and interest wil run longer.

Cheers for this,       David

[Bryan Milham]

Well done David, Fig it is.

Strange tree, the wood breaks so easily if you put your weight on it, even quite thick branches. Probably because of all the fissures in it.

As a young lad between the ages of 9 to 11 I lived in Cyprus (dad was in the RAF) and hence have sat in a few of these trees, picking and eating the figs, to the point that I can't even look at a 'Fig Roll' these days!

Anybody else want to set a challenge?

Wood from garden shrubs are always very interesting - anyone got something strange in the back of their shed's.

[woodndesign]

Blast...  going on the possibility of a hothouse fruit, I first thought Apricot then Peach and maybe Orange, but to get it right ..

Oh, Cyprus our past 2 holidays have been to Kato Pafos, but it was changing from the past year we'd been due to Greece and the Euro.

The trees it's not just fig, but the Olives and Black Cedar of Lebanon ..

The wonderful trips into the Troodos. Was Dad posted to Mount Olympus.

Cheers   David

[thebowlerhattedturner]

I could tell you a very funny story about Troodos, perhaps we need an off topic page?
Regards
John BHT