Exotic Wood Descriptions

African Blackwood Botanical Name: Dalbergia melanoxylon Country of Origin: South Africa More African Blackwood Info		Highly prized for making woodwind instruments due to its tonal qualities Heartwood ranges from shades of brown to black Very hard, heavy, and dense Fair amount of oily dust generated when cutting or sanding; good ventilation is required Average Specific Gravity: 1.2
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, musical instruments, various types of handles

Amboyna Burl Botanical Name: Pterocarpus indicus Countries of Origin: Myanmar, Laos More Amboyna Burl Info		Heartwood ranges from golden yellow to deep red Also called Narra Fragrant aroma Carves well Considered excellent for both turning and finishing Average Specific Gravity: 0.66
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, furniture, pool-cue butts, musical instruments, handles, veneer

Ambrosia Maple Botanical Name: Acer saccharinum Countries of Origin: U.S., Canada More Ambrosia Maple Info		Features distinctive greenish/brownish streaks, as well as small worm holes, caused by the ambrosia beetle Also called "Wormy Maple" Considered good for steam bending Stains and polishes well Average Specific Gravity: 0.36
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, furniture, flooring, veneer

Australian Myrtle Burl Botanical Name: Nothofagus cunninghamii Countries of Origin: Australia and Tasmania		Also called Myrtle Beech Trees are host to a fungus that produces sweet and edible clusters (about the size of small apples) Coloration of wood varies from dark brown to yellow-orange, including everything in between Known for having high bending strength Takes a high polish Average Specific Gravity: 0.58
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, fine furniture

Birdseye Maple Botanical Name: Acer saccharum Countries of Origin: U.S. and Canada More Birdseye Maple Info		Figure consists of small "eyes" (thus, the name) Eyes thought to be starting points of new branches Stains and polishes well Very durable Average specific gravity: 0.72
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, fine furniture, musical instruments

Black Palm Botanical Name: Borassus flabellifer Country of Origin: Myanmar More Black Palm Info		Stringy grain with multicolored, streak-like figure Dense hardwood Somewhat difficult to work with, requiring sharp tools Average Specific Gravity: 0.68
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, inlay work, cooking spoons and other utensils

Black-and-White Ebony Botanical Name: Diospyros embryopteris Country of Origin: Laos		Features distinct black streaks Rare species of ebony Turns and finishes well
	Some Common Uses: Turnery

Bloodwood Botanical Name: Brosimium rubescens Countries of Origin: Brazil, Suriname, and French Guiana		Takes its name, of course, from its sanguine appearance Heavy and hard Dust created when working with Bloodwood can cause allergic reactions; precautions should always be taken Also known as "Satine" Average Specific Gravity: 0.63
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, musical instruments, pool-cue butts, cabinets, furniture

Bocote Botanical Name: Cordia elaeagnoides Country of Origin: Mexico More Bocote Info		Figure consists of multicolored, wavy stripes Hard, dense, and fairly oily Can sometimes be sliced into highly decorative veneers for paneling Polishes to a smooth finish Average Specific Gravity: 0.85 (varies widely)
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, boxes, furniture, boat decking

Bolivian Rosewood Botanical Name: Machaerium scleroxylon Country of Origin: Bolivia		Also known as Pau Ferro Sometimes used as a substitute for Brazilian rosewood Heartwood is light to medium brown or purple with dark growth lines Fairly oily Finishes well
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, musical instruments, handles, furniture, inlay work, veneer

Brown Ebony Botanical Name: Caesalpina paraguariensis Country of Origin: Argentina		Very dense and hard Stable; fairly easy to work with Polishes nicely
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, veneer

Burmese Blackwood Botanical Name: Dalbergia cultrata Countries of Origin: Myanmar, Laos, Thailand		Varies in color from reddish brown to black Turns and carves well Polishes nicely
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, musical instruments, furniture

Curly Bubinga Botanical Name: Guibourtia spp. Countries of Origin: Cameroon, Gabon		Features a captivating curly grain pattern The wood's fine pores often contain a reddish gum, which can sometimes make drying, carving, or gluing problematic Cuts and finishes well; works well with hand tools, despite its hardness Average Specific Gravity: 0.72
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, handles, furniture, musical instruments, veneer

Curly Maple Botanical Name: Acer saccharum Country of Origin: United States More Curly Maple Info		Figure consists of criss-crossing "curly" lines and streaks, which form when wood fibers in the tree become distorted as they grow Heartwood is a light cream color Turns well Average Specific Gravity: 0.72
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, handles, furniture, musical instruments, veneer

East Indian Rosewood Botanical Name: Dalbergia latifolia Country of Origin: India More East Indian Rosewood Info		Considered a tonewood for its consistent acoustic qualities Heartwood varies in color from rich rose to dark brown and contains purplish-black streaks Dries fairly quickly with little degrade Hard, heavy, dense, and strong Average Specific Gravity: 0.85
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, fine furniture, musical instruments

Gabon Black Ebony Botanical Name: Diospyros crassiflora Country of Origin: Gabon More Gabon Ebony Info		Heartwood is often jet black, sometimes with a wavy grain Very hard, dense, and heavy Somewhat difficult to work with, requiring sharp tools Average Specific Gravity: 1.03
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, inlay work, musical instruments, piano keys

Guatemalan Mora Botanical Name: Maclura tinctoria Country of Origin: Guatemala		Coloration varies from shades of brown to red to yellow Heavy, hard, and dense Tree produces a bright yellow dye called "fustic" (sometimes the wood is called Fustic as well), which is primarily used to dye khaki fabric Botanical name was formerly Morus tinctoria Average Specific Gravity: 0.75
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, fine furniture, handles, cabinets, musical instruments

Honey Mesquite Botanical Name: Prosopis alba Country of Origin: Argentina		Spiral to interlocked grain often creates a 3D-ish appearance Very dense Honey-like scent Widely used in Argentina for furniture making and fine carpentry; especially prized for its low-volume shrinkage Average Specific Gravity: 0.76
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, furniture, flooring

Jobillo Botanical Name: Astronium graveolens Country of Origin: Guatemala		Closely related to the wood Goncalo Alves Although very dense, Jobillo has superior bending strength Finishes smoothly and takes a high polish Somewhat difficult to glue Average Specific Gravity: 0.77
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, furniture, pool-cue butts, handles, cabinets

Kingwood Botanical Name: Dalbergia cearensis Country of Origin: Brazil		French kings in centuries past reportedly favored this wood for their furniture; thus the name Very hard and heavy, and oily Some people are allergic to the wood's dust, so proper precautions should be taken Average Specific Gravity: 1.20
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, fine furniture, cabinets, handles, inlay work

Lignum Vitae (Argentine) Botanical Name: Bulnesia sarmientoi Country of Origin: Argentina More Argentine Lignum Vitae Info		"Lignum Vitae" means "Tree of Life" in Latin; also called "Palo Santo" ("Sainted Wood") in Argentina Very hard and dense wood Despite its density, cuts well due to its natural oils Polishes well Average Specific Gravity: 1.10
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, handles, mallets

Macassar Ebony Botanical Name: Diospyros celebica Country of Origin: India More Macassar Ebony Info		Heartwood is strong, heavy, and hard Mostly used for decorative purposes Somewhat difficult to work with, requiring sharp tools Average Specific Gravity: 1.09
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, inlay work, pool-cue butts, musical instruments, walking sticks

Marblewood Botanical Name: Marmaroxylon racemosum Country of Origin: Suriname		Marble-like appearance Heartwood is yellowish beige with maroon to black wavy streaks Dense and hard Turns and finishes well
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, handles, furniture, flooring, marquetry

Mopane Botanical Name: Colophospermum mopane Country of Origin: Zimbabwe		Hard and dense Oiliness of wood helps to prevent splitting Fairly easy to work with Average Specific Gravity: 0.87
	Some Common Uses: High-end furniture, inlay work, woodwind musical instruments

Olivewood Botanical Name: Olea Europaea sub specie Africana Origin: Northern Africa More Olivewood Info		Indigenous to the Mediterranean Sea region Dark brown streaks contrast attractively with yellowish-brown heartwood Wood is hard, but not difficult to work with Olive trees have been known to live for upwards of 1,500 years Average Specific Gravity: 0.80
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, handles, boxes, religious items, furniture

Osage Orange (Argentine) Botanical Name: Maclura tinctoria Country of Origin: Argentina		Also known as "Mora" Higher quality species than American Osage Orange (doesn't change color) Uneven texture is created by darker and lighter yellow bands Very dense hardwood Stable, strong, and durable Average Specific Gravity: 0.76
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, handles, musical instruments

Padauk Botanical Name: Pterocarpus soyaxii Country of Origin: Cameroon More Padauk Info		Heartwood is reddish-orange initially but changes color over time, becoming anything from bright red to coral pink Turns and carves well Very stable and durable
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, handles, musical instruments, veneer, furniture, flooring, boats

Pink Ivory Botanical Name: Rhamnus zeyheri Country of Origin: South Africa More Pink Ivory Info		Pinkish red-striped coloring is produced by bands of wood tissue in the growth rings Carves and turns well, but, due to its hardness, requires sharp tools Known as the royal wood of the Zulus Average Specific Gravity: 0.90
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, inlay, veneer, chess pieces

Purpleheart Botanical Name: Peltogyne paniculata Country of Origin: Suriname More Purpleheart Info		Heartwood is dullish brown when freshly cut, but changes rapidly to a vivid purple "Purpleheart" is the trade name of timber produced by about 20 different species in the genus Peltogyne Requires sharp tools for cutting Grain is typically straight Average Specific Gravity: 0.86
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, inlay, fine furniture, flooring

Red Elm Botanical Name: Ulmus rubra Country of Origin: Canada		Heartwood can feature reddish-brown streaks Shock resistant due to fibrous grain Tea made from the trees' leaves is said to soothe the digestive tract Also known as "Slippery Elm" Average Specific Gravity: 0.56
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, cabinets, furniture

Red Palm Botanical Name: Cocos nucifera Country of Origin: Myanmar		Features distinguishing red stringy pattern Heartwood is light yellow in color Somewhat brittle and prone to splitting
	Some Common Uses: Turnery

Redheart Botanical Name: Erythroxylon mexicanum Country of Origin: Mexico		Similar to Bloodwood in character and color Comes from a shrub that is fairly small and gnarly Wood is typically smooth, with tight grain Sands and polishes well
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving

Redwood Burl Botanical Name: Sequoia sempervirens Country of Origin: United States		Redwood trees grow primarily in the so-called "fog belt," which runs along the Pacific coast from southern Oregon to Central California The single tallest tree in the world is a Redwood, measuring more than 360 feet in length Easy to turn and carve Now considered rare, even within the fog belt, although efforts are being made to grow more trees Average Specific Gravity: 0.37
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, boxes, fine furniture

Snakewood Botanical Name: Piratinera guianensis Country of Origin: Suriname More Snakewood Info		Figure resembles the striped markings of a snake Extremely heavy, hard, and dense (it actually sinks in water) Turns well Oily and naturally resinous Somewhat challenging to work with because it splits fairly easily and tends to be splintery Average Specific Gravity: 1.30
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, inlay work, handles, pool-cue butts, musical instruments, fishing rods, walking sticks

Tambootie Botanical Name: Spirostachys africana Country of Origin: Tanzania More Tambootie Info		Heartwood is rich brown with various shades of darker brown to black Has an oily feel and sweet smell Fair amount of oily dust generated when cutting or sanding; good ventilation is required Finishes well Average Specific Gravity: 0.80
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, cabinets, furniture, musical instruments

Thuya Burl Botanical Name: Tetraclinis articulata Country of Origin: Morocco More Thuya Burl Info		Thuya burls actually form on the roots of the tree and must be unearthed from underground Figure consists of clusters of small, black "eyes" Considered a national treasure in Morocco Also known as Thyine Wood; mentioned as such in the Bible Turns and polishes well Average Specific Gravity: 0.67
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, inlay work, handles, pool-cue butts

WengÉ Botanical Name: Millettia laurentii Countries of Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon		Pronounced Wen-GAY Heavy and hard Distinctive figure is reminiscent of that on a partridge's feathers Darkens to a deep brown over time, but the veins remain prominent Makes for a nice contrast when coupled with a lighter colored wood Average Specific Gravity: 0.88
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, musical instruments, canes, archery bows, flooring

Yellowheart Botanical Name: Euxylophora paraensis Country of Origin: Brazil		Dries relatively easily with limited checking or cracking Darkens only slightly on exposure to sunlight Fairly easy to work with Also known as Pau Amarello Average Specific Gravity: 0.80
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, handles, furniture, cabinets, inlay work

Zebrawood Botanical Name: Microberlinia brazzavillensis Country of Origin: Cameroon More Zebrawood Info		Name stems from vivid, striped pattern ingrained in wood Trees are difficult to harvest due to large size and remote locations Despite being fairly oily, Zebrawood holds finish well Also known as Zebrano Average Specific Gravity: 0.74
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, handles, fine furniture, veneer, flooring, dashboards

Ziricote Botanical Name: Cordia dodecandra Country of Origin: Mexico		Features dark brown to black irregular streaks Very heavy and dense Quite durable Finishes well Also known as Canalete Average Specific Gravity: 0.66
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, pool-cue butts, cabinets, fine furniture, paneling