Wood veneer, Maple (Burl, AAA)

Maple (Burl, AAA)

Often considered the holy grail of fine woods, maple burls are wart-like growths typically growing on the lower part of the tree. Burls are believed to be caused by disease or damage to the tree during its early years. Every tree contains "dormant buds" which have all of the genetic information that a tree needs to grow a new tree. When the tree is damaged, these dormant buds are called to action and create a chaotic grain pattern that effectively patches the damage. A burl is often just nature's way of making a band-aid.

Common Name:		Maple
Scientific Name:		Acer saccharum
Family:		Aceraceae
Color:		Cream, tan, orange, red, and occasional brown
Origin:		North America
Hardness:		Primarily hard, though some softer maples do exist
Texture:		Fine, closed pore
Finishing:		Readily accepts stains and finishes