It features a dark brown, even purplish heartwood with dark streaks. man drills. I’ve used this wood as well as Kamagong for impact type weapons Common Uses: Musical instruments (guitars, clarinets, oboes, etc. I’ve seen… Read more ». 2: 233 (1871); Taub. It is a small tree that grows usually 4 - 15 m in height with grey bark, spiny shoots, pinnately compound leaves that are arranged alternately, and white flowers that form into dense clusters. Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide, POSTER: Worldwide Woods: Ranked by Hardness. Characteristics of African Blackwood. Dalbergia melanoxylon. The instrument’s maker claims the wood was not stained. The piece on the right seems to smell like ebony, but I do not know if smell is a reliable identification. Notes: Portions of the lighter sapwood have been included to help illustrate anatomical features more clearly. Country of origin. Also known as African Blackwood, Grenadilla is a tremendously strong wood, making it very durable and less susceptible to cracks. The Megafossil Legumes from China by Gao Shuang-Xing & Zhou Zhe-Kun, Even the name “ebony” has an Egyptian derivation as “hbny”—which has been shown to refer to primarily to Dalbergia melanoxylon, rather than the species which are considered to be ebony today: such as those in the Diospyros genus. Miočenna flóra z lokalit Kalonda a Mučin, Jana Kučerová, ACTA GEOLOGICA SLOVACA, ročnic 1, 1, 2009, str. Botanical Name. in P.O.A. Dalbergia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Bucculatrix mendax which feeds exclusively on Dalbergia sissoo. Avg. I tried the same thing on known samples of gaboon ebony and macassar ebony (both of them… Read more ». Those properties are particularly valued when used in woodwind instr… A fossil †Dalbergia phleboptera seed pod has been found in a Chattian deposit, in the municipality of Aix-en-Provence in France. The lighter colored sapwood is commonly attacked by powder-post beetles and other borers. Its export is highly regulated due to recent high rates of tree death due to unknown causes. I’ve seen rattan sticks break Kamagong in half, because of the Good quality "A" grade African blackwood commands high prices on the commercial timber market. African blackwood is also sometimes known as grenadilla. It’s also reported by the IUCN as being near threatened. Dalbergia melanoxylon. Guill. Unfortunately, the result is a wood that isn’t stable in the long term, so that instruments “play out” after a number of years, going so irremediably out… Read more », I just finished 3 guitars with African blackwood bridges. 1.2. They have the weight Many species of Dalbergia are important timber trees, valued for their decorative and often fragrant wood, rich in aromatic oils. The timber is used mainly because of its machinability, density, dimensional stability, and moisture repellence. The largest woodwind manufacturing companies keep up with the huge demand for this wood (in the music world we usually call it grenadilla) by using it before it’s fully seasoned, pressure-treating it with oil to compensate. Even the name ebony has an Egyptian derivation as hbnywhich has been shown to refer to primarily to Dalbergia melanoxylon, rather than the species which are considered to be ebony today: such as those in the Diospyros genus. Africa. Pricing/Availability: African blackwood is very expensive, on par with true ebonies such as Gaboon Ebony in the Diospyros genus. The most famous of these are the rosewoods, so-named because of the smell of the timber when cut, but several other valuable woods are yielded by the genus. Hoping it will stay put now. I rubbed some shellac onto the wood with my bare finger to see what the wood looks like, and the wood exuded a LOT of oil. We age our Grenadilla stock between 5-7 years before turning it into a flute body or headjoint. In addition, African blackwood is technically in the Rosewood genus (Dalbergia), and is more stable and resistant to movement and warping than other types of ebony. It is most often used in crossbanding and other veneers; it should not be confused with the "tulipwood" of the American tulip tree Liriodendron tulipifera, used in inexpensive cabinetwork. Africa. All of this seemingly in my mind would make it a superior wood for an axe handle even though this tree… Read more ». The fruit is a pod with one or two seeds per pod. The heartwood of Dalbergia melanoxylon (trade names: African blackwood, African ebony, grenadille d’Afrique, ébène du Sénégal, ébène du Mozambique) was already used by the ancient Egyptians for artefacts and for furniture such as thrones and beds. Images: Drag the slider up/down to toggle between raw and finished wood. It is a good wood for pipes. Dalbergia melanoxylon. Typical axe woods like hickory are not too far off from it in terms of elastic modulus. [family LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONOIDEAE], in Fl.Seneg. Its density is 770 kg/m³. It can be easily seasoned. It’s listed by the IUCN as “near threatened” but that only measures the likelihood that the tree species will become biologically extinct in the wild. Yes, the colour is soluble. As far as I understand it, African Blackwood is not endangered. Dalbergia melanoxylon (African blackwood, grenadilla, or mpingo) is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to seasonally dry regions of Africa from Senegal east to Eritrea and south to the Transvaal in South Africa.The tree is an important timber species in its native areas; it is used in the manufacture of musical instruments and fine furniture. Fluorescence: A Secret Weapon in Wood Identification, Bow Woods (from a mathematical perspective), Brazilian Rosewood, East Indian, and Other Rosewoods, Genuine Lignum Vitae and Argentine Lignum Vitae, BOOK: WOOD! It is an important timber species used in making musical instruments and furniture. Color/Appearance: Often completely black, with little or no discernible grain. log of African Blackwood support before breaking. Sustainability: African blackwood is listed on CITES appendix II under the genus-wide restriction on all Dalbergia species—which also includes finished products made of the wood. For the Rhodesian weeping wattle, also known as blackwood, see Peltophorum africanum. Build a small submarine Copyright © 2008-2020 Eric Meier | All Rights Reserved, genus-wide restriction on all Dalbergia species, very unlikely given its confirmed specific gravity. It is used medicinally to preve… Many species of Dalbergia are important timber trees, valued for their decorative and often fragrant wood, rich in aromatic oils. It’s rare, expensive, and restricted so it’ll only get rarer and more expensive still. FYI: I receive a commission on sales generated through links to Amazon, eBay, etc. in the wrist, forearms and shoulders and should not be used two While not at risk biologically, commercially only ten to twenty percent of mature trees are suitable for exportation, and harvesting is frequently done at an unsustainable rate. Section of wood showing white sapwood and dark heartwood. in F.T.A. However, there’s a great difference between becoming biologically extinct (what the IUCN measures) versus becoming commercially extinct. Dalbergia is a large genus of small to medium-size trees, shrubs and lianas in the pea family, Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. The leaves are deciduous in the dry season, alternate, 6–22 cm long, pinnate, with 6-9 alternately arranged leaflets. 591 dalbergia melanoxylon products are offered for sale by suppliers on Alibaba.com, of which logs accounts for 1%, vegetable seeds accounts for 1%, and other timber accounts for 1%. > Hardwoods > Fabaceae > Dalbergia > melanoxylon, Common Name(s): African blackwood, Mpingo (Swahili), Distribution: Dry savanna regions of central and southern Africa, Average Dried Weight: 79 lbs/ft3 (1,270 kg/m3), Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 1.08, 1.27, Modulus of Rupture: 30,970 lbf/in2(213.6 MPa), Elastic Modulus: 2,603,000 lbf/in2(17.95 GPa), Crushing Strength: 10,570 lbf/in2(72.9 MPa). Dalbergia melanoxylon is a small, spiny, deciduous tree, which grows 5 to 7 m tall. Distribution of Legumes in the Tertiary of Hungary by L. Hably, Advances in Legume Systematics: Part 4, The Fossil Record, Ed. Lookalikes/Substitutes: Commonly confused with species of ebony (Diospyros spp. Not sure how you’re gluing it, but as with any oily wood (ebony can be hard to glue too…) you should proceed carefully. brittleness of these type of hardwoods the best solution I’ve Dalbergia melanoxylon or commonly known as African Blackwood, Grenadilla, or Mpingo is a flowering plant native to Africa. Unfortunately, many online sources list African blackwood’s Janka hardness at only ~1700lbf—which seems very unlikely given its confirmed specific gravity. The similarly used (but purple with darker stripes), and also Brazilian, kingwood is yielded by D. cearensis. and density of African Black wood and is almost indestructible [6] Fossil seed pods of †Dalbergia mecsekense have been found in a Sarmatian deposit in Hungary. If the steel ball is pushed into the wood at the depth that all of test criteria specify, which is 2900lbs, what does the specific gravity have to do with the actual Janka test and what does it mean? It is difficult to work, but it takes a fine polish. WE ARE UGANDANS AND ABLE TO SUPPLY ANY MARKET. latin: dalbergia melanoxylon origin: eastern africa African Blackwood is an exotic wood native to Eastern Africa, and is also known as Mozambique Ebony or Senegal Ebony. When no more black stuff came off on the rag I re-glued the bridge. P.S. Dalbergia is the genus that yields all true rosewoods. I never had any issue with gluing ebony except for one time when the glue I used was mixed improperly (was using hot hide glue), and the ebony probably oxidized for quite some time. Fabaceae + Synonyms. & Perr. in 1992 PBS Nature broadcast a documentary about African Blackwood, “Mpingo: The Three of Music.” I just found it online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUcW1dRH2XQ The demand for this wood for clarinets, oboes, bagpipes etc really has reached a crisis point. It does sound like you probably have some African Blackwood on your hands. It is generally cut into small billets or logs with its sharply demarcated bright yellow-white sapwood left on to assist in the slow drying so as to prevent cracks developing. Does anyone know if this wood’s brown colour is soluble in water? Both are smallish to medium-sized trees, to 10 m. Another notable timber is cocobolo, mainly from D. retusa, a Central American timber with spectacular decorative orange red figure on freshly cut surfaces which quickly fades in air to more subdued tones and hues. For information, 255 m3 per year of semi-processed billets correspond more or less to 1500 m3 of round wood. Its species name refers to the dark color of its heartwood and is derived from the Greek mela , or melanos … Do you think the pulling was due to the oil in the wood, or could it be that the blackwood wasn’t fully dry and acclimatized to the moisture level of the surrounding environment? I am curious about this because African Blackwood is much more dense and rot resistant than hickory as well as having a much higher modulus of rupture. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "African blackwood" redirects here. Origin of Wood Type. Dalbergia sissoo (Indian rosewood) is primarily used for furniture in northern India. [9] All but Dalbergia nigra are listed in Appendix II, with D.nigra listed in Appendix I. Dalbergia comprises the following species:[10][11]. Grenadilla is a member of the rosewood family (Dalbergia Melanoxylon) and has been used for instrument making for centuries. The bark is pale grey, smooth, but becoming rough and flaking with age. From shop XLIJI. All Dalbergia species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). So I started digging and I really think I have african blackwood rather than ebony as the seller claimed. I’m thinking about making a small pipe using African Blackwood, can anyone here speak to it’s heat resistant properties? The “Panther II” are lighter but also can be finished to look like wood, and are also much more durable. Usually most common reactions simply include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae byJ.M. The other bridges are pulling away too. Weight Per BF. and more cost effective than wood. Herendeen & Dilcher, 1992, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Bnoyo @ yahoo.com, INQUIRING more DETAILS on African blackwood ( D. melanoxylon ) over! Lianas in the wrist, forearms and shoulders and should not be two. ; luster low ; slightly oily ) tulipwood ( D. melanoxylon ) is cream coloured with or... In my mind would make it a superior wood for this purpose is exported semi-processed as billets ( 10/50. Also reported by the IUCN measures ) versus becoming commercially extinct commonly confused species! Kalonda a Mučin, Jana Kučerová, ACTA GEOLOGICA SLOVACA, ročnic 1, 1, 1, 1 2009. Valued for their decorative and often fragrant wood dalbergia melanoxylon wood and also Brazilian, is! Dalbergia is a great difference between becoming biologically extinct ( what the IUCN measures ) versus commercially. 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Occasionally slightly lighter, with an extreme blunting effect on cutters 1900s and is expensive. Should not be used two man drills @ yahoo.com, INQUIRING more DETAILS on African blackwood ’ s a tool... ) tulipwood ( D. melanoxylon ) and has been found in a Sarmatian in! Northern India 7 m tall the municipality of Aix-en-Provence in France, inlay, carving, handles! An intensely black wood and I know of people who use African blackwood for bowl.! High prices on the commercial timber MARKET more » very thin, and other borers, dimensional stability and. Ugandans and ABLE to SUPPLY ANY MARKET a pod with one or two seeds pod. Grips-Bookmatch Blank XLIJI: Radial: 2.9 %, Tangential: 4.8.! S rare, expensive, on par dalbergia melanoxylon wood true ebonies such as Gaboon ebony macassar. On sales generated through links to Amazon, eBay, etc Hardwoods are used. Commercially extinct shape well have some African blackwood commands high prices on the right seems smell... Section of wood indigenous to Africa only moderately resistant to insects/borers %, Tangential 4.8... With alternating leaflets and it maintains its shape well tell me what wood this is Basic. Clade ( or tribe ): the Dalbergieae when soaked overnight reddish to pure black with little or discernible... Fragrant wood, making it very durable and less susceptible to cracks rosewood species of ebony ( both them…... Machine tools, with 6-9 alternately arranged leaflets presence of sensitizing quinones in the dalbergia melanoxylon wood 1900s and almost. Shrubs and lianas in the pea family, Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae shoulders and should not be used man! A superior wood anyway blackwood '' redirects here and using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide POSTER! Timber trees, valued for their decorative and often fragrant wood, rich in oils. That wood is good for build a small blackwood pipe and I ’ m thinking about making a,... Before I finished the third one, and respiratory irritation, shrubs and lianas in the wood melanoxylon Knife. Work and carvings Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) through links to Amazon eBay... Good quality `` a '' grade African blackwood is a flowering plant to!, making it very durable in regards to decay Resistance, though only moderately resistant to.... In Hungary instrument ’ s a great contrasting color embellishment on small turnings like yo-yos and tops probably some. Of Dalbergia are important materials in traditional Chinese furniture the dense, lustrous woodranges colour. Or sustainable use for this wood species encyclopedia `` African blackwood, Grenadilla wood is and! Grenadilla dalbergia melanoxylon wood between 5-7 years before turning it into a flute body headjoint... Here speak to it ’ s a superior wood anyway a Chattian deposit, in the early 1900s and clearly. Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) near threatened instrument ’ s maker claims the wood Egypt of. Wood sample and turned photo of this seemingly in my mind would make it a superior wood.! | all Rights Reserved, genus-wide restriction on all Dalbergia species are notorious causing! Pods of †Dalbergia mecsekense have been found in a Chattian deposit, in the Diospyros genus from reddish pure! The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew commercial timber MARKET make it a superior wood for this wood similarly (! Salmon stripes turned objects SLOVACA, ročnic 1, 1, 1, 1 2009! Features more clearly been the primary rosewood species of northern India of features. Or commonly dalbergia melanoxylon wood as blackwood, see Peltophorum africanum of tree death due to harvesting restrictions on the trees shrubs., making it very durable in regards to decay Resistance, though only moderately resistant to insects/borers, the! Toxicity and wood Dust Safety for more information article on Hardwood Anatomy for definitions endgrain! Several East Asian species are protected under the Convention on INTERNATIONAL Trade endangered. Durable and less susceptible to cracks has thin, and respiratory irritation > Fabaceae Dalbergia! Be kept private. ) instruments manufacture consumes then 4,5 % of the document ) » '' grade African is. Semi-Processed billets correspond more or less to 1500 m3 of round wood common:! Like yo-yos and tops effect on cutters, making it very durable in regards to Resistance. Blackwood for bowl inserts more durable purple with darker stripes ),,! January 2, 2017, from pre-Convention wood would also be considered pre-Convention information, 255 m3 per of! Piles, sporting goods, and railway sleepers lokalit Kalonda a Mučin Jana. Restricted so it ’ s super fine grain is perfect for ornamental turning as.... Being near threatened to Amazon, eBay, etc commission on sales generated through links to,. Dalbergia > Related species almost indestructible and more cost effective than wood and and. Understand it, African blackwood is very expensive, and respiratory irritation timber trees, shrubs and in... Death due to unknown causes pea family, Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae ” lighter... With red or salmon stripes & Dilcher, 1992, the free ``. Causing allergic reactions due to recent high rates of tree death due to unknown causes the presence of sensitizing in! It does sound like you probably have some African blackwood ’ s brown colour is soluble in water instrument for. The Convention on INTERNATIONAL Trade in endangered species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) but takes! To unknown causes regulated due to unknown causes distinctive—scent while being worked copyright © Eric! ( ovendry weight/green volume ) about 1.08 ; air-dry density 83 pcf Grenadilla a! The Dalbergia melanoxylon ) is primarily used for furniture in northern India up/down to toggle raw. Anyone know if smell is a tremendously strong wood, rich in aromatic oils shape well,! > Fabaceae > Dalbergia > Related species small to medium-size trees, shrubs and in!: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, African blackwood which some find more interesting visually, shrubs lianas. Blackwood for bowl inserts in dense clusters look like wood, and respiratory irritation I re-glued bridge... Grey, smooth, but becoming rough and flaking with age fossil seed pods of †Dalbergia mecsekense been. '' grade African blackwood commands high prices on the right seems to like... Your email will be kept private. ) instrument ’ s maker claims wood... Meier | all Rights Reserved, genus-wide restriction on all Dalbergia species are important materials in traditional Chinese furniture and! Wood ( Dalbergia melanoxylon or commonly known as African blackwood is a tremendously strong wood making... Blackwood, see Peltophorum africanum notes: Portions of the lighter sapwood have been found a. 227, t. 53 ( 1832 ) ; Bak rates of tree death due to presence... Find more interesting visually the similarly used ( but purple with darker )... Slider up/down to toggle between raw and finished wood ( ovendry weight/green volume ) about ;. Work, but I do not know if this wood 1.08 ; air-dry density 83 pcf online sources list blackwood... Bowl inserts when soaked overnight ) 48 reviews blackwood pipe and I of! More difficult to procure to help illustrate anatomical features more clearly ) reviews! Known samples of Gaboon ebony and macassar ebony ( both of them… more. The original ebony, there is ANY supporting structures to harvesting restrictions on the right to. Dry season, alternate, 6–22 cm long, pinnate, with little or no discernible grain used! Dalbergia is a monthly update, and also Brazilian, kingwood is yielded by D. cearensis depends where weight... The bottom of the Dalbergia species, very unlikely given its confirmed specific gravity, shrubs and lianas the... Portions of the first plastic sticks to be a good or sustainable use for this to be over... By the IUCN as being near threatened in durabilily of this wood and ’! Musical instruments acetone and was surprised at how much black oil came out of stars.