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Chart Help
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Botanical Name: Dalbergia melanoxylon
What's the wood like?
Very nice to work and polish, but also very hard. Takes an exceptional polish and is the Turning Wood of Kings for nothing holds fine detail as well as African Blackwood.
How's the color?
Heartwood is dark purple-brown with dark black streaks and the sapwood is creamy white.
Does it go by other names?
African blackwood, African ebony, African grenadilo, Banbanus, Ebene, Grenadilla, Grenadille d'Afrique, Mpingo, Mufunjo, Mugembe, Mukelete, Pau preto, Poyi, Zebra wood
What could I use it for?
Musical instruments such as clarinets, oboes, etc; turnery, inlay, and accents.
What is the tree like?
The small tree develops more than a single stem, and typically grows to a height of 15 to 20 feet. The bole is often short, fluted, and rarely cylindrical, with diameters that are seldom more than 12.
Where is it from?
Africa, from Sudan southward to Mozambique, westward to Angola, and northward to Nigeria and Senegal. The tree is also reported to grow in western India.

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