The most common stripmaterial here is "Nordic Spruce", "Gran" or "Picea abies"
http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/barr/pina/picea/piceabi.html
This tree is very common here, have a lot of twigs but in some areas you can find clean logs to make strips of. The strips I use measures 4,5x18 mm bead´n´cove.
The laminate has been tested by The Royal Technical Highschool. The report can be found at http://www.wermlandia.net/svenska/index.htm In swedish that is..
The laminate with spruce/glass/epoxi was found to be two to seven times stronger/better than fiberglassreinforced polyester. Some values was nearly 70 times higher!
And there is no allergenic dust produced when grinding!!
The wood will get a yellow-red tan after long exposure to daylight.
http://www.kayaker.se/nr8-filer.htm
The density is 370-480kg/sqm compared to Pine(redwood)480-530. It has very long fibers and is quite easy to bend. I can twist one (good!)1,5m long strip more then one full turn without cracking.
If you are interested in wood take a look at this site http://www.lignmultiwood.com/english/index.asp

Richard Kohlström