Spalting is a discoloration found in many pale-colored hardwoods, caused by infestations of fungi.  The result is a wood surface with contrasting colors separated by rambling thin black lines.  These lines are, in fact hard border walls between different fungi to protect their food source from competition.  

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Although they create a beautiful, natural surface figure, one cannot guarantee the structural integrity of spalted woods, which is why the base of this table is built from spaltless, hard maple.