Steve, Degame also grows in a few places in Central America too but I don't know the soil type, altitude or any of it's requirements.
Dubois, Like Pearlie said the belly and backing strips are sawn board. I smooth the gluing surfaces on my 6"x48" table top bely sander. I have a real course belt on it so it eats wood fast. This is also good prep for the glue surfaces because it gives you fresh wood to glue to plus minute grooves lengthwise from the course grit for more glue surface area. I good brush off with a stiff brush will remove the dust and ready for the glue.
...and speaking of glue...I began the glue-up. I mixed up the glue and evenly spread it on the hickory backing first then the belly
Then I mated the two laminates, inserted the dowel alignment dowels, aligned and clamped the tips and began wrapping the limbs, one at a time.
Once both limbs were wrapped (did I mention how messy this can be. rubber gloves and lots of news paper are necessary) I placed the glue-up on the form(see my form Chris). I clamped the ends of the riser again and used the wedges like before. I then drew the glue-up into reflex with a large "C" clamp to just over 3/4" of reflex added.
Once everything was in good shape I took the glue-up, form and all to the hot box. I had the box preheated to a little over 110deg(F). Once in the box I placed aluminum foil over the glue-up where the lights are so I don't get hot spots. I also have a small fan in the box to keep the temp even and circulating. Here she will sit for about 2 hours. Then I will let everything cool slowly before I take the glue-up our and it will be a day or so before I take it off the form.