yellow wood
• noun
A deciduous North American tree (Cladrastis kentukea) of the pea family, prized as an ornamental for its smooth gray bark, bright yellow heartwood, and long, pendulous panicles of fragrant white, pea-like flowers in late spring.
"The mature yellow wood in the botanical garden was covered in cascading clusters of fragrant white blossoms."
Any of various other trees yielding yellowish timber or dye, such as coniferous trees of the genus Podocarpus native to the Southern Hemisphere or Australian trees of the genus Flindersia.
"Tall yellow woods form a major part of the canopy in the indigenous montane forests of South Africa."
The hard, fine-grained, yellowish timber obtained from any of these trees, used in cabinetry, furniture making, and dye extraction.
"The antique chest was crafted from polished yellow wood that had deepened to a warm amber hue over the decades."
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