Catalpa spp. of the family Bignoniaceae. Includes at least C. bignonioides and C. speciosa and that is for the species in the USA. Worldwide, there are numerous other Catalpa species.
my samples --- colors are accurate throughout
both sides and both ends of a sample piece
end grain closeup of the piece directly above
sample plank and end grain listed as Southern catalpa / Catalpa bignonioides
end grain closeup of the piece direct above
sample plank and end grain listed as Northern catalpa / Catalpa speciosa
end grain closeup of the piece directly above
turning stock --- end grain is sealed with Anchorseal, but the enlargements do a good job of showing the grain. Color is very accurate
turning stock and end grain closeup --- this is the smaller of the two pieces directly above but cleaned up and sanded
flat cut, quartersawn, end grain
catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides, aka bean tree and cigar tree) from The Wood Book --- both levels of enlargement are avaiable for all 3 views
Seems to be another case where the wood samples that these images were take from had darkened quite a bit over time and I don't know for sure but I'd guess that the purple color is more an artifact of the photography than it is true wood color.
web pics
slabs
planks
plank
turning square and closeup
bowl blanks and end grain
bowl blanks and end grain
pen blanks made from crotch wood
bowl turning blank
Northern catalpa bowl blank
turning stock from a moderately dishonest vendor who makes all of her wood pics far more red than the wood really is.
