[Mryooper]

Hello,
Just wondering if any one of you have come across a natural purple staining in wood? I know I have seen it in Lilocks branchs , but this is a first in the diamond willow.

[rick-in-seattle]

Yes,
I have seen purple, yellow, red, and green in some woods. Poplar is multi-colored at times.

[wade clark]

The live oak that I'm carving the bird chairs out of, the entire inside at one point was purple burl! I wouldn't have believed oak could have that color if I hadn't seen it. A local sawyer told me he pulled an old growth oak log off the bottom of the Apalachicola River that was entirely deep purple when he cut into it.
Wade

[AlArchie]

Aspen has quite a few different hues infused in the wood (or can have, anyways) A lot has to do with the mineral content of the soil and if there have been any injuries or infections while the tree is growing. Downed aspen and some maples can rapidy develop a blue, green, or turquoise hue do to fungi penetrations. If they get a little farther along in the decomposition stage, (way past spalting) they can phosphoresce in the dark, when the temperature is right. I think this is what causes what's known locally as "Fox Fire". It's really quite disconcerting when you stumble across this in the dark woods on a foggy night....a log lying on the forest floor, glowing with erie blue-green embers!

Al

[wade clark]

Al,
It sounds like you and Colin stumble around in the same dark woods at night! Phosphorescing wood! Very cool! I've paid to kayak phosphorescent water at night...very magical! Maybe you could line up tourists to pay to see a phosphorescing forest floor...sign me up!
Wade

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Originally Posted by AlArchie

Aspen has quite a few different hues infused in the wood (or can have, anyways) A lot has to do with the mineral content of the soil and if there have been any injuries or infections while the tree is growing. Downed aspen and some maples can rapidy develop a blue, green, or turquoise hue do to fungi penetrations. If they get a little farther along in the decomposition stage, (way past spalting) they can phosphoresce in the dark, when the temperature is right. I think this is what causes what's known locally as "Fox Fire". It's really quite disconcerting when you stumble across this in the dark woods on a foggy night....a log lying on the forest floor, glowing with erie blue-green embers!

Al

LOL You and Colin better lay off that stuff!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I just finished a can for a man , made it out of palo verde, a desert tree....it is yellow and has faint purple streaks...but I think this is a residue in the wood from the inner layer of the bark, not sure.