Selected wood characteristics of tropical acacia and eucalypt species growing in provenance trials in north Queensland, Australia

This study examined tree size (DBHOB), % heartwood and wood density of three important acacia and two eucalypt species growing in provenance trials in north Queensland, Australia. The wood density of Acacia mangium was significantly lower than that of A. aulacocarpa and A. crassicarpa, but there were no significant differences in DBHOB or % heartwood between the three acacia species. Provenances of A. mangium varied significantly in DBHOB and wood density, and for this species there was a significant positive correlation between DBHOB and % heartwood. The Papua New Guinea (PNG) provenances of A. mangium were larger in diameter than the Queensland provenances, and the PNG-N provenance had the highest wood density. Eucalyptus urophylla trees were significantly larger in diameter and had a higher % heartwood than those of E. pellita, but there was no significant difference in the wood density of the two eucalyptus species. Significant provenance variation in DBHOB and % heartwood existed in E. pellita; however, unlike A. mangium, there was no distinct relationship between DBHOB and % heartwood.