Rosids: Fagales: Trees...with nuts!

Southern Red Oak

Quercus falcata

Height: 110-150ft

Range: Southeast US

Red Oaks fall into the subgenus Erythrobalanus. Notable for pointed ends on jagged leaves and bark which is smoother. Red Oaks tend to grow in wetter conditions and as such have more porous, open grain for water transport. This can be seen on the endgrain faces of the dice- with the small holes being pores in the trees xylem tissue

Peruvian Walnut, Tropical Walnut, Bolivian Walnut

Juglans boliviana

Height: 100-200ft

Range: Northern South America

Very similar to the walnuts of the northern hemisphere. Not much is known about the tree ecologically. It is becoming more common in the trade due to timber companies moving towards secondary value trees. Often has good chatoyency. 

Pedunculate Oak, English Oak, Bog Oak

Quercus robur

Height: 100-170ft

Range: Western Eurasia

Likely the oak species which gave us the word "oak" stemming from Indo-Iranian languages from the Cuacasus. This widespread species has one of the largest natural ranges of any oak. What makes it "bog oak" is that these pieces were sunk in peat bogs naturally for thousands of years. The peat tannins causing th

Japanese Bamboo Leaf Oak, Shirakashi

Quercus myrsinifolia

Height: 50-70ft

Range: Coastal East Asia

My absolute favorite oak I've ever worked with. It is dense, has amazing figure, and easy to work with. Far superior to domestic oaks. Unfortunately, it is very unlikely that I will be able to get more easily since my Japanese supplier has shut down.

Bastogne Walnut, Paradox Walnut

Juglans hindsii x regia

Height: 70-100ft

Range: California

You'll notice that the species name is odd, this is because it is a (artificial) hybrid between the California native Claro Walnut and the English Walnut. Fast growing and known for exceptional figure especially in burls. 

Curly Birch, Visakoivu, Silver Birch (Caramelized)

Betula pendula var. carelica

Height: 50-80ft

Range: Finland and Russia

Another weird species name, in this case it is a regional population with a specific genetic variation that causes the tree to grow twisted which gives the grain a beautiful flowing pattern. In this case it has also been artificially "caramelized" where the normally light wood is t