Thought I'd post a few pics of some Australian timbers for you Northern Hemisphere denizens.
I've got to admit I keep a keen eye out for your timber in the workshop shots I see. Call this 'my contribution'.
The reddish timber is River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulenis). A species from the open woodlands, trees tend to spread rather than form a trunk. Interlocked grain of 900kg/cubic meter (aid dried). Gum veins are common, so its often found for sale as garden sleepers for garden beds. Lengths that are free of gum veins are not all that common.
Second piece is Queensland Walnut (Endiandra palmerstonii), a tropical hardwood. Air dried is 690kg/ cube. A wide variety of figure effects, but really high in silica and due to that it is usually only used in veneers (it is also scarse as much of its habitat is protected under World Heritage listing).
Both photo's show approx 6" x 4" section. Both are finished using a Festool ROS and "wet sand with Danish oil", finished off with some wax.