MAPLE, AMBROSIA

Botanical Name: Acer macrophyllum

Common Name: Wormy Maple

This fancy name disguises the fact that ambrosia maple's signature stripes are the result of small insects called the Ambrosia Beatle that eat and burrow through the wood while the tree is still growing. Once the hole is made bacteria enter into the newly formed passages and discolor the exposed wood. After milling, these scars and holes give the wood character that actually makes it more valuable then clear maple.