The laburnum used here is not that found in Southern England which flowers with yellow pendant floral stems, but a larger tree, Cytisus Alpinus. This flourishes in Scotland, where it is also sometimes called 'Scotch Walnut' and was favoured by cabinet and chairmakers alike. The heartwood darkens with exposure to air, but the sap-wood remains a whitish yellow which gives the contrasting colours found on the legs of this chair.