Which species do you have in mind? I've made light bows out of cypress that grows in the Mediterranean, Cupressus sempervirens. Those were successes, if by success you mean a shootable bow. When I attempted a 60" flatbow it snapped at 23" at about 50 pounds. I'd dare to say that tiller was well done so it should be about the wood being inadequate. But then it could be one of those self defense pyschological mechanisms, lol. Anyway, I noticed that these woods, though of the same species, were somehow different in texture. Also, they were cut in different seasons. I don't know if it has effect, but shootables were made from would cut in late summer/early fall, while the failed one was cut in early spring. The wood cut in spring tended to kinda shatter under a draw knife, it didn't leave the smooth surface but rings tore apart leaving small pits. Also when worked with a hatchet the rings sometimes completely separated, so the piece I cut away had natural bump down its entire length, and part of the stave was left with a groove. That was on belly side, the back was clear because you can strip the bark off and it will never check. I never saw that when I worked autumn cut and hardwoods like ash. So, I'll just fell another tree sometime before winter and when seasoned try to make at least a mid weight bow.
