Botanical name: Acer saccharum, A. nugrum. The wood of all hard maples is similar. It has cream to light-reddish-brown coloured heartwood, with a thin white sapwood tinged slightly with reddish brown. The wood is heavy, strong, stiff and has a high resitance to shock. Shrinkage during seasoning is large. It takes a stain satisfactorily and polishes well