Curly maple, also know as tiger maple, is a figured wood. The grain of the wood grows in a distinctive wave pattern. It is not clear what causes this rare defect but when curly (tiger) maple is sawed across that grain an iridescent striping pattern is revealed in the face of the plank. As you can see in the adjacent photo when tiger maple is split along the grain the growth pattern is exposed. The size, intensity and consistency of the curl throughout the board brings forth a fasinating quality. The highly figured tiger striped rays run perpendicular to the grain pattern. Along with the wood's light color, this tiger striping pattern creates a shimmering quality to the natural beauty of the wood.