Wood Species in the BurlBlade Archive
This Wood Species Guide introduces the timber species documented within the BurlBlade archive, each revealing unique grain patterns, colour, density, and working characteristics shaped by the natural growth of the tree.
This Wood Species Guide documents the timber species found within the BurlBlade archive. Each species page explores the natural characteristics, grain patterns, hardness, and working properties of the wood, along with examples from documented urban salvage harvests.
Within this Wood Species Guide, each species represents a distinct material category shaped by natural growth conditions, environmental stress, and harvest context. This allows each specimen to be understood not only by its visual appearance, but also by its structural behaviour and working characteristics.
Many pieces originate from storm-felled or removed trees across South Africa. By documenting each harvest and specimen individually, BurlBlade preserves the natural history and provenance of every piece of wood within this Wood Species Guide.
Browse the species below to learn more about their grain structure, density, and common uses in woodworking, turning, carving, and knife making. For broader technical information about timber species characteristics and properties, the Wood Database provides one of the most comprehensive global references.
Variation Between Species in the Wood Species Guide
Each timber species exhibits distinct structural and visual characteristics shaped by its growth conditions. Differences in grain formation, density, and stability influence how a material behaves when cut, dried, and worked.
Even within a single species, variation can occur depending on environmental factors such as soil conditions, growth rate, and stress events. This results in a wide range of figure and internal structure across documented specimens within this Wood Species Guide.
How the Wood Species Guide Connects to the Archive
The Wood Species Guide forms part of the BurlBlade archive system, linking species classification to documented harvests and individual specimens. Each species page connects directly to harvest records and the specimen registry, creating a structured relationship between material origin and finished pieces.
This system ensures that every specimen can be traced back to its source tree, allowing woodworkers and collectors to understand the full context of the material.
Individual pieces can be explored through the Specimen Registry, linking species classification to specific documented specimens.
How BurlBlade Documents Wood Specimens
Each piece of wood in the BurlBlade archive receives a unique specimen ID linked to its harvest batch. This allows every cookie, slab, or turning blank to be traced back to its original tree and harvest location.
The provenance certificate on each product page documents the species, origin, harvest date, and cut type so that woodworkers and collectors can understand exactly where their material came from.
Selecting a Species for Application
Material selection is often guided by the intended use of the specimen. Density, grain complexity, and stability all influence how a piece performs in applications such as turning, carving, or resin casting.
Understanding these characteristics allows makers to choose material aligned with their working method, whether prioritising structural integrity, ease of shaping, or visual figure within the finished piece.
Unidentified or Unknown Species
Not all material within the BurlBlade archive can be classified to a confirmed species. Some specimens originate from salvaged or removed trees where species identification is uncertain or unavailable.
Within this Wood Species Guide, these materials are still documented and connected through their harvest context, ensuring they remain part of the archive system even without a confirmed species classification.
These unidentified specimens often originate from root systems or heavily altered growth conditions, where standard botanical identification is not possible. Despite this, they still retain unique structural and visual characteristics valuable for creative and functional applications.
Examples of unidentified material can be explored through the harvest archive, where specimens are linked to their origin and documentation rather than a confirmed species classification.
View unidentified specimens in the harvest archive →
Wood Species Archive
The following species are currently documented within the BurlBlade archive:
Example material from this species can be seen in the documented PB2601 Plum Burl harvest from Sunnyridge, Germiston.