Timber iQ August - September 2017 // Issue: 33 | Page 52

CONTRIBUTORS - WOOD WORKS
Looking at Saligna
Eucalyptus grandis (Saligna) is one of more than 700 Eucalyptus
species, which mainly originate from Australia.
By Stephanie Dyer | All images courtesy of Colin Dyer
Close-up of Eucalyptus grandis logs near Paulpietersburg, Mpumalanga.
M
any Eucalyptus species have been tested for
commercial planting in southern Africa and many
of these have performed well in different
conditions. New species are also being introduced and
tested in ongoing research efforts.
Poynton (1979) states in his authoritative volume on
tree planting of Eucalypts that Eucalyptus grandis is grown
commercially for timber and pulp production on a larger
scale than any other Eucalypt in southern Africa. It is also
grown in plantations world-wide. The scientific name is
derived from the Greek words ‘eu’ (well) and ‘kalypto’ (to
cover) which refers to the floral structure of the genus and
‘grandis’, a Latin word meaning great, grand, tall, lofty or
powerful. The species should not be confused with E.
saligna (Sydney Blue Gum), which has a different floral
structure, an underground lignotuber (woody swelling), not
present in E. grandis, and produces timber of generally
higher density.
In addition to growing it as a pure species, Eucalyptus
grandis is also hybridised with other Eucalypt species, like
E. urophylla, to increase its resistance to disease and
insects. E. grandis is an important tree for honey
production and is also slightly salt tolerant, making it
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desirable for coastal forestry. It is drought sensitive, has
been planted for windbreaks, has high carbon sequestration
potential and regenerates well after fire damage.
Saligna trees are fast growers and usually reach heights
of 30 to 55m. However, the tallest tree world-wide is over
75m. In South Africa, the Satico Plantation, near Louw’s
Creek in Mpumalanga, contains a champion Eucalyptus
grandis tree of 72.3m, measured in 2013 by a group
of international tree climbers (Liebenberg and
Liebenberg, 2015).
The timber produced by this species is slightly paler,
lighter, softer, more fissile and less durable than the timber
of most other Eucalypts (including E. saligna). However, it is
suitable for a range of applications, including light
construction, boatbuilding, framing, panelling, domestic
flooring, interior joinery, furniture, toys, boxes and crates,
pallets, poles, scaffolding, fencing, mining (props, mat
packs and lagging), plywood, particle board, pulp, charcoal
and fuelwood. Saligna is used successfully as a substitute
for Light Red Meranti (Shorea species) for certain
indoor applications.
See more on page 52