Queensland Maple and Queensland Maple?

[Petecane]

Hi.
Bit of help please.
In my Bushwhacker Ukulele thread you will see that the last Uke built was from Queensland Maple ( figured )
I am now mastering a neck for a Tenor Ukulele from Queensland Maple ( not figured )
The two woods bought from the same supplier who I really like, are totally different.
The neck Q M is of a slightly pinkish colour, is very light and almost handles like Mahoghany albeit it is white/ slightly pink.
It is White to look at but the shavings appear slightly pink.
It is easy to work.
The Maples I have worked with for violin backs and necks are considerably harder.
So my question is....
Why the difference?
I am a bit bemused at the Australian descriptions of woods.
Like...
Australian Red Cedar is not really cedar?
Australian Black wood is far from black?
Queensland Maple and Queensland Maple differences.
Are you guys deliberately trying to confuse the issue?
Perhaps some kind person can explain.
Thanks
Pete

[Bruce McC]

Hi Pete

Don't blame us mate, the common names given to Australian timbers came from your mob
when they colonised this land.
Queensland maple - Flindersia Brayleyana is not a true maple - Acer spp.
In younger tress the heartwood can be a pinkish colour and brown to mid brown in mature trees.
The grain can be straight, wavy, fiddleback or birds-eye, depending on the growing environment.

" It's regarded as one of the finest cabinet woods of the world and the most valuable on the Australian market".
Refer Australian Rainforest Woods by Morris Lake 2015 CSIRO Publishing.

[Petecane]

Cheers Bruce.
And dont tell me you have a wife called Shiela!! Ha ha.
So it's the Godammned Pommies to blame.
Bloody lot!!!
Thanks for clearing that up.
And yes...I agree...it is a beautiful wood both figured and unfigured.
I understand it is getting scarce now so I had better panic buy.
It is lovely to work.
I have lashed out on Koa for my own personal Tenor Uke but my son prefers the Queensland Maple on the Soprano.
Mind you I think he disagrees just to irritate me!
Yes you are right.
Someone had to name the trees so being a Pommy I take full blame.
You have some beautiful woods out here.
That's a fact.
Australia fair mate!
Pete

[kiwigeo]

Try bending some Australian blackwood with a bit of heat and moisture....and you'll see why it's called blackwood.

[Steve]

Queensland Maple was first described/named by a German guy - Ferdinand von Mueller. He was one of Australia’s great botanists describing hundreds of species. He did end up becoming a Naturalised British subject in Australia, so we still have a tenuous option of giving the Brits some stick if we choose.

[Petecane]

Ach Mench!
Dan muss es Qveenslend Mepel sein Ja?

If a German named all the trees then that let's me off the hook just a little bit?

Seriously...that was interesting.
Thanks
Pete