Scientific Classification

Kingdom: plantae

Division: spermatophytes (seed plants)

Subdivision: angiosperm {(covered seed),hardwoods}

Order: laurales

Family: atherospermataceae or monimiaceae

Genus: atherosperma

Species: moschatum (common name: blackheart sassafras or blackhearted sassafras)

Images: top left, blackheart sassafras; top right, a pair of blackheart sassafras boards arranged symmetrically said to be book matched.

'Default' wood varies from white to a smokey grey. Its low tannin content made it ideal for clothes pegs, and like myrtle it can have a distinctive stain, which in this case is, known as "Blackheart Sassafras" and is highly prized. 

The black-heart stain arises when the living tree has suffered some trauma (eg storm damage) and a staining fungus is able to enter and infect the tree.

This very popular timber should always be quarter-sawn. It can be better book-matched (see image above right), utilising the black-heart stain versus the default wood; it also gives a more equitable distribution of the black-heart stain and of course it will have greater stability.

Also see Sassafras.

See also density comparative chart here.

Examples of indeco products in Blackheart Sassafras:

Ned's plats: Designed and made in Tasmania; these wonderful cutting/serving/cheese boards have been made in the European tradition with an Australian flavour!