Myrtle

Myrtle (Umbellularia californica)

Common Name(s): Myrtle, Oregon Myrtle, California Bay Laurel

Scientific Name: Umbellularia californica

Distribution: Coastal regions of southwest Oregon and central California

Tree Size: 80-100 ft (24-30 m) tall, 2-4 ft (.6-1.2 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 40 lbs/ft³ (650 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .51

Hardness: 1,270 lb_f (5,650 N)

Bending Strength: 8,000 lb_f/in² (55,200 kPa)

Elasticity: 940,000 lb_f/in² (6,500 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 2.8%, Tangential: 8.1%, Volumetric: 11.9%, T/R Ratio: 2.9

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is light brown to gray or olive. Sapwood is lighter and is a pale brown color.

Grain/Pore: Has a fine texture and closed pores. Grain can be straight, irregular, or wavy. Figured wood is also commonly seen, which can have varying grain/color patterns.

Durability: The heartwood is reported to be very resistant to decay, but the sapwood is not. Since most boards and pieces can include both sapwood and heartwood, Myrtle should not be used in exterior applications.

Workability: Fairly easy to work, and takes stains, glues, and finishes well. There can be problems with tearout on pieces with figured grain patterns. This wood also has a tendency to burn easily, so be sure to use appropriate speeds and have sharp cutters.

Smell: Has a strong spicy odor that can sometimes be unpleasant.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Myrtle has been reported to be a skin irritant as well as a sensitizer. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price Range: Myrtle is seldom available as lumber. Even though it is a domestic lumber, it’s usually fairly expensive, and is mostly used for decorative/ornamental purposes.

Comments: Looking at the elasticity data above, Myrtle seems to have a very poor strength-to-weight ratio, and is typically used for more aesthetic purposes, rather than in applications where strength is important.