Holly

holly	holly, end grain

Holly is the whitest wood in the world (say that three times fast!), and when it is at its whitest, it has no peer as a contrast to just about everything else. But as the lack of extractives that color other hardwoods leaves holly vulnerable to fungi stains, it is quite a trick to dry holly fast enough to keep it white. I've seen 11/2 thick holly become permeated with blue stain fungus overnight. I use it in almost every jewery box top I make, and I use the veneer as well in laminations where a thin white line is needed. It has the look of ivory, particularly on its endgrain. These scans really don't show the difference between the face and end grains very well. It comes mostly from the great timber states of Delaware and Maryland.