COMMON NAMES:   Myrtle, California laurel

SPECIFIC GRAVITY:   .51

DENSITY:  

TANGENTIAL MOVEMENT:   8.5%

RADIAL MOVEMENT:   2.9%

VOLUMETRIC SHRINKAGE:   12.4%

DURABILITY1:   Moderate to good

SOURCE:  Oregon and California

DESCRIPTION:   Orange brown to dark brown to almost black in color. Figured with fine black lines. Submerging freshly cut wood in water produces highly prized "black myrtle." Machines and finishes easily, but tends to be unstable due to the high differential between its tangential and radial shrinkage. Polishes to a very high luster. Sometimes found with cluster burls and sliced for veneers. Moderately hard and heavy.

1 Durability refers to a wood's resistance to rotting in wet environments.