Marri Timber for Flooring & Furniture-Making
 The Marri or Eucalyptus calophylla belongs to the bloodwood that is indigenous to Western Australia. Its other common name is Port Gregory Gum but traditionally it has been called the Red Gum due to the red gum liquid that it exudes on its trunk. The presence of this gum makes it difficult to choose which one is suited for commercial use. Marri is unique among the bloodwoods because of its enormous buds and fruits, called locally as “honky nuts” in this part of Western Australia.
It closely resembles the Red-flowering Gum or Corymbia ficifolia, which it is related. The Marri is much taller, measuring about 50 meters in the wild with bigger buds and fruits. Its flowers are typically white to pink and not red like its cousin. However in some localities, hybridisation makes it difficult to distinguish one from the other.
Marri can be found dotting the vast landscape of South-West of Western Australia from the northern part of Geraldton to Cape Riche and even inland beyond the Narrogin area. Due to its great adaptability, the Marri can thrive in various environments, which explains why you can see traces of it on the areas of the Swan Coastal Plain and the Darling Scarp. It can grow despite poor soil conditions, but the first-rate specimens clearly come from good agricultural land.
Marri timber is popularly used as modern household furniture because of its unique and attractive features. Its honey color is very appealing as well as its distinct vein structure. It is also used in construction except when the structure of the wood shows some complicated flaws.
Due to the quantity of gum in Marri, very few timber merchants are able to sell the product. Looking for first grade timber of Marri is not easy because the tree has a very low recovery rate. However, the natural grain and feature of this unique wood has increasingly been noticed and selected for both flooring and furniture making. The Marri has found its very own patrons, who appreciate its wonderful features.
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