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Wisteria - Is it Wood?
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This unusual material is technically wood but......
Wisteria is in fact a member of the Pea family, Fabaceae (formerly Leguminoseae).
The genus includes ten species of deciduous climbing vines, two native to the
southern United States and the others native to eastern Asia.
When turning it you have to bear in mind that the plant does not need to support
it's self and thus the cells are used to transporting water great distances with
out the need for the strength to support a great weight of tree. Consequently they
are very very open and light weight. Also of note is the unusual fact that it grows
over it's own bark every seven years or so leaving quite an unusual grain pattern.
If you take all this into account it does turn relatively easily with spectacular results.
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This picture shows a close up view of the grain structure,
revealing the very hollow fibres and an enclosed layer of bark. |
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Gregory Moreton RPT |
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