"Legna nera"

[chatometry]

Hi everyone
I got this one which is called "legna nera" (i.e. black wood) here.
It is quite heavy... any idea about what it could be?


Thanks
Paolo

 

[JR Parks]

Looks like it could be a good looking wood. Anxious to see what folks might think it is. Where did you get it Palolo?

 

[Mr. Peet]

'Legna' is Italian for wood and 'nera' means black. So I'd say it is Blackwood. Acacia melanoxylon has been introduced and is growing in Italy, but does not look to match.

 

[chatometry]

I confused two wood chunks -_-

I found the wood I showed as a small log, and no-one told me what it is. Here are a few more pictures. [Log 1]


This is the endgrain (1/4 by 1/4")


Three more guys gave me three pieces under the name "tería"; one is quite dark (like black walnut) while the other two are light-coloured, similar to chestnut. These are the endgrain pictures (1/4 by 1/4") I took:
[Log 2]


[Log 5]


[Log 6]


Do you think they are from the same plant? can it sometimes be diffuse-porouse (as in logs 2 and 5) and sometimes ring-porous (as in log 6)?

My mistery wood [log 1] looks similar to the dark tería log [log 2]; they also had the same bark.

Looking for "tería" on the web I find reference to three species:

1) calycotome villosa (syn. cytisus spinosus, spartium spinosum); the bark looks very similar to my logs, and the description I was given also matches.

2) genista spp. and colutea arborescens:
I would rule these out since all pictures I find on the web show a completely different bark.



Now for "legna nera": The wood that was given to me as "legna nera" is this one:



Chocolate brown with golden sapwood, very dense, with a very peculiar endgrain:
[Log 4]




Based on the hobbithouse (thanks @phinds) I would think this is Rhamnus; if so, based on the location it is Rhamnus Alaternus.

 

[chatometry]

More Rhamnus pictures:

 

[JLTibbetts]

That first chunk looks like Black Locust to me. I could be way out in left on that though.

 

[Mr. Peet]

Still thinking acacia of some sort.... Bet they look nice under blacklight....

 

[chatometry]

Still thinking acacia of some sort.... Bet they look nice under blacklight....

I took some pictures...
From left to right; : Log 1, Log 2, Log 5, Log 6

Logs 1, 2 and 5 were cut a few days ago. Out of these only log 5 appears reactive, and only in fresh-cut areas. Log 6 was cut long ago, but the endgrain was cut recently, yet it doesn't look reactive...

Log 1:


Log 2:


Log 5:


Log 6:


I will take another picture on a fresh cut at some point...

What do you think?

Thanks everyone!
Paolo

 

[chatometry]

That first chunk looks like Black Locust to me. I could be way out in left on that though.

I agree for the bark, but not for the inside. All black locust I cut so far was definitely ring-porous, and also a lot lighter in colour.
Paolo

 

[Mr. Peet]

I took some pictures...
From left to right; : Log 1, Log 2, Log 5, Log 6
View attachment 261566
Logs 1, 2 and 5 were cut a few days ago. Out of these only log 5 appears reactive, and only in fresh-cut areas. Log 6 was cut long ago, but the endgrain was cut recently, yet it doesn't look reactive...

Log 1:
View attachment 261561

Log 2:
View attachment 261562

Log 5:
View attachment 261563

Log 6:
View attachment 261564

I will take another picture on a fresh cut at some point...

What do you think?

Thanks everyone!
Paolo

I would read the purple color as reactive. Thus log 2 and 5 showing reaction. However, log 5 looks to react in areas of stress or pre-rot, so healthy wood likely does not react.

 

[300LW]

Based on the bark, the Plantnet app suggests persian lilac.

 

[chatometry]

I would read the purple color as reactive. Thus log 2 and 5 showing reaction. However, log 5 looks to react in areas of stress or pre-rot, so healthy wood likely does not react.

Thank you. I am not very familiar with this analysis.

 

[chatometry]

Based on the bark, the Plantnet app suggests persian lilac.

Thank you. I also use that app, it is fantastic!
If you find flowers or fruits it gives excellent ID :)
Paolo

 

[chatometry]

A guy told me my mistery wood is "ginestra", which could possibly be one of many species within the "genistae" tribe.
Paolo