ive made elb's from hick,boo backed hick,boo baked ipe,you can use osage etc etc etc.
whats wrong with using a board for making a bow?
i use them and like them.they take a lot less time to get a working bow out of than a stave does.
but i also understand the want to start from stave and make a bow.
however ifn your tree poor like me,trading is about the only way i get staves.but lumber yards seem to have plenty of boards lol