The Causes of Natural Durability in Timber I. The Role of Toxic Extractives in the Resistance of Tallowwood (Eucalyptus Microcorys F. Muell.) to Decay

Abstract

The hypothesis that the natural resistance of certain timbers to decay is due to the deposition in the heartwood of materials toxic to fungi is discussed, and criteria for assessing the role of these materials are outlined. These criteria have been applied in a study of the decay resistance of the highly durable Australian timber tallowwood (Eucalyptu8 microcory8 F. Muell.).