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Very little information is available about how long dead trees remain standing, or fallen logs persist, in the Australian arid zone. Some Information about dead timber is available from the records of the T.G.B. Osborn Vegetation Reserve on Koonamore Station, South Australia. Two species were examined , Acacia aneura (mulga) and Myoporum platycarpum (false sandalwood, sugarwood). Data were extracted from records of both permanent quadrats and photopoints. Standing dead Myoporum trees had a mean age of 31.2 + 5.7 years, fallen trunks 38.4 + 3.7 years. Mean age of standing dead A. aneura was 40.0 + 3.7 years, fallen trunks 22.4+ 6.3 years. These figures are almost certainly underestimates. The reasons why are discussed and some comparisons made with temperate forests. Some individuals of mulga are capable of standing dead for over 75 years , while dead Myoporum platycarpum may stand for over 60 years.