Its cherry veneer, framed with maple, is decorated with porcupine quillwork, more conventionally used to embellish hides or birch bark, not solid wood.

WSJ: Changing Hands | We Are Here! | Native, North American, New | By Lee Rosenbaum

Both natural events bring the Japanese out en masse to celebrate the changing seasons, with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties in the springtime and momiji-gari (maple leaf viewing) in the fall.

BBC: K��y��: Japan��s autumn explosion of colour

They can occur on any tree, anywhere, but are commonly found on elm, walnut, cherry, redwood and (again) our old friend and free-spirited, maple.

NPR: Excerpt: 'A Splintered History Of Wood'