A type of maple in which the growth of the wood fibers is distorted in an undulating pattern, producing wavy lines known as flames. This effect is often mistakenly said to be part of the grain of the wood; to be more precise, it is called "figure", as the distortion is perpendicular to the grain direction. Prized for its beautiful appearance, it is used frequently in the manufacturing of musical instruments, such as violins.  xxxsilvia b (src: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curly_maple)