Rosewoods

The Rosewoods are about 100-150 species of small to medium-size trees of the genus Dalbergia, in the pea family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. They are native to the tropical regions of Central and South America, Africa and southern Asia.

The wood of many species is hard, with a very attractive colour and grain figure, and is in high demand for manufacture of particularly musical instruments (e.g. the marimba and clarinets), but also furniture, marquetry and indoor panelling.

Several species are endangered in the wild due to over-cutting, but some are also grown in plantations. They are also grown as ornamental trees for their attractive foliage and flowers.

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Dalbergia

Species

D. brownei (Brown's Indian rosewood) D. cochinchinensis (Siamese Rosewood) D. ecastaphyllum (Coinvine) D. frutescens (Tulipwood) D. latifolia Roxb. (Indian rosewood) D. melanoxylon (African blackwood) D. monetaria (Moneybush) D. nigra (Brazilian rosewood) D. retusa (Cocobolo rosewood) D. sissoo (Sheesham, Indian rosewood) D. stevensonii (Honduras rosewood)