What are the flecks in oak wood and furniture called?

Question

Once herard it mentioned on the antiques roadshow

Answer 1

The grain.

Answer 2

Knots

Answer 3

As bilbo says they are called rays, they are most obvious when oak is quarter sawn, it is the trees store of minerals

Answer 4

medullary rays

the figure is the general term for the pattern of growth rings, knots, rays, root and crotch patterns, defects etc that you see once cut

if you gave a thumb down go and check it for yourself, you may not like it but its correct

Answer 5

Rays?

Answer 6

Did they say 'patina'?  This is a general term used to describe 'footprints' left behind.

If not let us know then I'll ask my colleague who is doing his Masters in Timber Buildings, he's bound to know!

Ok, spoken to him, it is known as the 'figure' and is caused by cutting through the medullary rays.

Answer 7

Flecks

Answer 8

Flecking nuisance !!!

Answer 9

These are called "Medullary Rays" which occur radially in the trunk of the tree. They are highly prized as a decoration in oak, and can be seen in 'quarter sawn' oak. These are true cuts on the radius, hence not many per trunk, hence very costly cut.