Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued

timber Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, w ...

s, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues.

True rosewoods

All genuine rosewoods belong to the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

Dalbergia ''Dalbergia'' is a large genus of small to medium-size trees, shrubs and lianas in the pea family, Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. It was recently assigned to the informal monophyletic ''Dalbergia'' clade (or tribe): the Dalbergieae. ...

''. The pre-eminent rosewood appreciated in the Western world is the wood of ''

Dalbergia nigra ''Dalbergia nigra'', commonly known as the Bahia rosewood, jacarandá-da-Bahia, Brazilian rosewood, Rio rosewood, jacarandá-do-brasil, pianowood, caviúna, graúna, jacarandá-una or obuina is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae. Descri ...

''. It is best known as "Brazilian rosewood", but also as "Bahia rosewood". This wood has a strong, sweet smell, which persists for many years, explaining the name ''rosewood''. Another classic rosewood comes from ''

Dalbergia latifolia ''Dalbergia latifolia'' (synonym ''Dalbergia emarginata'') is a premier timber species, also known as the Indian rosewood ( Tamil / தமிழ்: Eetti / ஈட்டி). It is native to low-elevation tropical monsoon forests of south east ...

'', known as (East) Indian rosewood or ''sonokeling'' (Indonesia). It is native to India and is also grown in plantations elsewhere in Pakistan (Chiniot). Madagascar rosewood (''

Dalbergia maritima ''Dalbergia maritima'' is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae; it is a rosewood, and its wood is often referred to as Bois de Rose. It is found only in Madagascar. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed hab ...

''), known as ''bois de rose'', is highly prized for its red color. It is

overexploited Overexploitation, also called overharvesting, refers to harvesting a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns. Continued overexploitation can lead to the destruction of the resource, as it will be unable to replenish. The term ap ...

in the wild, despite a 2010 moratorium on trade and

illegal logging Illegal logging is the harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of laws. The harvesting procedure itself may be illegal, including using corruption, corrupt means to gain access to forests; extraction without permission, o ...

, which continues on a large scale. Throughout southeast Asia, ''

Dalbergia oliveri ''Dalbergia oliveri'' is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae which grows in tree form to 15 – 30 meters in height (up to 100 ft.). The fruit is a green pod containing one to two seeds which turn brown to black when ripe. It is thre ...

'' is harvested for use in woodworking. It has a very fragrant and dense grain near the core, but the outer sapwood is soft and porous. ''Dalbergia cultrata'', variegated burgundy to light brown in color, is a blackwood timber sold as Burmese rosewood. Products built with rosewood-based

engineered wood Engineered wood, also called mass timber, composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board, includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding or fixing the strands, particles, fibres, or veneers or boards of woo ...

s are sold as 'Malaysian rosewood' or as ''D. oliveri''. Some rosewood comes from ''

Dalbergia retusa ''Dalbergia retusa'' (Caviuna, Cocobolo, Cocobolo Prieto, Funeram, Granadillo, Jacarandáholz, Nambar, ñamba, Nicaraguan Rosewood, Palisander, Palissandro, Palo Negro, Pau Preto, Rosewood, Urauna) is a plant species in the genus ''Dalbergia'' fo ...

'', also known as 'Nicaraguan rosewood' or as ''cocobolo''. Several species are known as Guatemalan rosewood or Panama rosewood: ''D. tucerencis'', ''D. tucarensis'', and ''D. cubiquitzensis''. Honduran rosewood:''D. stevensonii'' is used for marimba keys, guitar parts, clarinets and other musical and ornamental applications. Not all species in the large genus ''Dalbergia'' yield rosewoods; only about a dozen species do. The woods of some other species in the genus ''Dalbergia'' are notable—even famous—woods in their own right:

African blackwood ''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 north-eastern parts of South Africa. The ...

, ''

cocobolo Cocobolo is a tropical hardwood of Central American trees belonging to the genus '' Dalbergia''. Only the heartwood of cocobolo is used; it is usually orange or reddish-brown, often with darker irregular traces weaving through the wood. The hear ...

'', kingwood, and Brazilian tulipwood. Some species become

canopy Canopy may refer to: Plants * Canopy (biology), aboveground portion of plant community or crop (including forests) * Canopy (grape), aboveground portion of grapes Religion and ceremonies * Baldachin or canopy of state, typically placed over an ...

trees (up to 30 m high), and large pieces can occasionally be found in the trade.

Other

The timber trade sells many timbers under the name 'rosewood' (usually with an adjective) due to some (outward) similarities. A fair number of these timbers come from other legume genera; one such species that is often mentioned is Bolivian ''

Machaerium scleroxylon ''Machaerium'' is the scientific name of two genera of organisms and may refer to: * ''Machaerium'' (fly), a genus of insects in the family Dolichopodidae * ''Machaerium'' (plant), a genus of plants in the family Fabaceae {{Genus disambiguat ...

'' sold as 'Bolivian rosewood'. Another that may be found in market from

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainlan ...

is ''

Pterocarpus indicus ''Pterocarpus indicus'' (commonly known as Amboyna wood, Malay padauk, Papua New Guinea rosewood, Philippine mahogany, Andaman redwood, Burmese rosewood, narra and asana in the Philippines, angsana, or Pashu padauk) is a species of ''Pterocarpus ...

'', sold as 'New Guinea rosewood' (and related species). ''

Dalbergia sissoo ''Dalbergia sissoo'', known commonly as North Indian rosewood or ''shisham'', is a fast-growing, hardy, deciduous rosewood tree native to the Indian subcontinent and southern Iran. ''D. sissoo'' is a large, crooked tree with long, leathery leav ...

'' is a rosewood species from India and Bangladesh, usually known as ''sheesham'' or North-Indian rosewood. Its timber is extremely dense and has mild rot resistance but is porous, and its exterior is soft and susceptible to wood-boring insects. It is used for making cabinets and flooring, and for carving. It is exported as quality veneers. Due to its after-work quality when sealed and dyed, it is often sold as genuine rosewood or as

teak Teak (''Tectona grandis'') is a tropical hardwood tree species in the family Lamiaceae. It is a large, deciduous tree that occurs in mixed hardwood forests. ''Tectona grandis'' has small, fragrant white flowers arranged in dense clusters ( pan ...

. It has no discernible qualities of a genuine rosewood. Its strength is comparable with teak, but it has lower quality and price than teak or ''

''. Although its wood bears no resemblance whatsoever to the true rosewoods, the Australian rose mahogany (''

Dysoxylum fraserianum ''Dysoxylum fraserianum'', commonly known as rosewood or rose mahogany, is a medium-sized to large tree native to New South Wales and Queensland. It is widely used with the purpose of street design and to provide shade in the eastern suburbs of ...

'', family

Meliaceae Meliaceae, the mahogany family, is a flowering plant family of mostly trees and shrubs (and a few herbaceous plants, mangroves) in the order Sapindales. They are characterised by alternate, usually pinnate leaves without stipules, and by syncar ...

) and Australian blackwood, ('' Acacia melanoxylon'') are also sold as rosewood. ''

Acacia excelsa ''Acacia excelsa'', also known as ironwood, rosewood, bunkerman and doodlallie is a tree of the genus ''Acacia'' and the subgenus ''Plurinerves'' that is endemic to inland parts of north-eastern Australia. In the Gamilaraay language it is known as ...

'' is also commonly known as ironwood or rosewood. Australian rose mahogany, due to the strong smell of roses from freshly cut bark, is more mistakenly termed a "rosewood".

Uses

All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...

s (the fretboards on electric and acoustic guitars often being made of rosewood),

marimba The marimba () is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars that are struck by mallets. Below each bar is a resonator pipe that amplifies particular harmonics of its sound. Compared to the xylophone, the timbre ...

s, recorders,

turnery Woodturning is the craft of using a wood lathe with hand-held tools to cut a shape that is symmetrical around the axis of rotation. Like the potter's wheel, the wood lathe is a simple mechanism that can generate a variety of forms. The operator ...

( billiard cues,

fountain pens A fountain pen is a writing instrument which uses a metal nib to apply a water-based ink to paper. It is distinguished from earlier dip pens by using an internal reservoir to hold ink, eliminating the need to repeatedly dip the pen in an ink ...

, black pieces in

chess sets Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to disti ...

, etc.), handles, furniture, and luxury

flooring Flooring is the general term for a permanent covering of a floor, or for the work of installing such a floor covering. Floor covering is a term to generically describe any finish material applied over a floor structure to provide a walking surface ...

, etc. Rosewood oil, used in

perfume Perfume (, ; french: parfum) is a mixture of fragrant essential oils or aroma compounds (fragrances), fixatives and solvents, usually in liquid form, used to give the human body, animals, food, objects, and living-spaces an agreeable scent. Th ...

, is extracted from the wood of '' Aniba rosaeodora'', which is not related to the rosewoods used for lumber. Rosewood is also used for bracelets and necklaces.

Toxicity

The dust created from sanding rosewood is known to be a sensitizing irritant and can trigger asthma and other respiratory ailments. Continual or heightened exposure can increase sensitivity.

Status as an endangered species

In general, world stocks are poor through overexploitation. Rosewood is now protected worldwide. At a summit of the international wildlife trade in South Africa, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (

CITES CITES (shorter name for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of interna ...

) moved to protect the world's most trafficked wild product by placing all 300 species of the rosewood tree under trade restrictions. At CITES meetings in 2013, 2016, and 2019, additional rosewood species were listed for protection, triggering market booms in China.

Characteristics

* Presence of hints of coarse grains with the shiny and silky smooth texture, compared to the glossy finish of artificial polishes * Even texture with an orange/yellow-red to deep purple with black bars color range: Even if artificial dyes can reproduce the color, if with an uneven texture it can be confirmed the product is not made of rosewood. Fake rosewoods products have a thick color or light colors with white color in some space. * If directly bought from workshop, the sawdust has a flowery aroma. If not, the product is compromised. Certain showpieces might have an unusual aroma; this is the effect of fragrant aerosol, not the quality. * A drop of water mixed with sawdust makes the dust submerged and the droplet has a purplish precipitation. * A gentle knock on the wood produces a crisp sound without noise.

List of rosewoods

From ''Dalbergia'' species: * Amazone Rosewood, Para Rosewood ('' Dalbergia spruceana'') * Bahia Rosewood, (Brazilian)

Tulipwood Most commonly, tulipwood is the greenish yellowish wood yielded from the tulip tree, found on the Eastern side of North America and a similar species in some parts of China. In the United States, it is commonly known as tulip poplar or yellow po ...

, Pau Rosa, Pinkwood, Bois de rose ('' Dalbergia decipularis'') * Black Rosewood, Nicaraguan, Mexican or Panama and Central American Rosewood (''

'') * Brazilian Rosewood, also Bahia or Rio Rosewood, Jacaranda, White Rosewood (''

''), german Rio-Palisander * Brown’s Indian rosewood ('' Dalbergia brownei'') * Burmese Rosewood (''

'') Chingchan also as Asian or Laos Rosewood, ('' Dalbergia bariensis''), ('' Dalbergia cultrata'', '' Dalbergia dongnaiensis'', '' Dalbergia fusca'') * Chinese Rosewood, Fragrant Rosewood, Huanghuali ('' Dalbergia odorifera'') also as Bangkok Rosewood * Closeflower Rosewood, Camotillo ('' Dalbergia congestiflora'') * Granadillo Rosewood ('' Dalbergia granadillo'') * Guatemala or Honduras Rosewood (''

Dalbergia cubilquitzensis ''Dalbergia'' is a large genus of small to medium-size trees, shrubs and lianas in the pea family, Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. It was recently assigned to the informal monophyletic ''Dalbergia'' clade (or tribe): the Dalbergieae. The g ...

'') * Honduran Rosewood (''

Dalbergia stevensonii ''Dalbergia stevensonii'', also called Honduras rosewood, is a Central American tree species in the Fabaceae, legume family. It grows in broadleaf evergreen swamp forests in southern Belize and adjacent Guatemala and Mexico. The wood is highly va ...

'') * Laos Rosewood, Burmese Rosewood, Burmese Blackwood ('' Dalbergia cultrata'') * Laotian Rosewood (''

Dalbergia lanceolaria ''Dalbergia lanceolaria'' is a species of tree in the subfamily Faboideae and tribe Dalbergieae. It is a medium-sized tree growing to 20m tall and is native to: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Burma and Indo-China (its Vietnamese names include ''vảy ...

'') * Madagascar Rosewood ('' Dalbergia baronii'', '' Dalbergia greveana'') also as French Rosewood, and Bois de Rose (''

'', '' Dalbergia louvelii''), ('' Dalbergia madagascariensis'', '' Dalbergia monticola'', '' Dalbergia trichocarpa'' etc.), for all ''Dalbergia''-species from the population of Madagascar. * Mexican Rosewood, Palo Escrito ('' Dalbergia paloescrito'') * (East) Indian Rosewood, Indonesian or Malabar, Bombay, Rosetta und Black Rosewood or Sonokeling Rosewood (''

'') * (North, East) Indian Rosewood, Sissoo, Sheesham (''

'') * Siamese, Siam Rosewood, Thailand Rosewood, Reclaimed Thai Rosewood (''

Dalbergia cochinchinensis ''Dalbergia cochinchinensis'', the Thailand rosewood, Siamese rosewood, or tracwood, ( th, พะยูง: ''Phayung'' ; Vietnamese: Trắc (or Cẩm lai nam bộ); Khmer: ក្រញូង: ''Kranhung'' ; Lao: ກະຍູງ: ''Kayung'' ; ...

'') * Yucatan Rosewood, Guatemalan Rosewood (''

Dalbergia tucurensis ''Dalbergia'' is a large genus of small to medium-size trees, shrubs and lianas in the pea family, Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. It was recently assigned to the informal monophyletic ''Dalbergia'' clade (or tribe): the Dalbergieae. The g ...

'') Other than ''Dalbergia'' species * African Rosewood, False Rosewood ('' Guibourtia demeusei''), ('' Guibourtia pellegriniana'') and ('' Guibourtia tessmannii'') (Bubinga), and ('' Guibourtia coleosperma'') Rhodesian Copalwood, also (''

Pterocarpus erinaceus ''Pterocarpus erinaceus'' is an endangered species of tree that is native to the Sahelian region of West Africa. It is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is used for fu ...

'', ''

Pterocarpus angolensis ''Pterocarpus angolensis'' (African teak, wild teak, pt, Girassonde, af, Kiaat, st, Morôtô, tn, Mokwa, ve, Mutondo, sn, Mukwa, sn, Mubvamaropa, zu, Umvangazi) is a species of ''Pterocarpus'' native to southern Africa, in Angola, Mozamb ...

'') also as West African Rosewood or Senegal, Gaboon Rosewood, '' Millettia laurentii'' (Wenge), ''

Hagenia abyssinica ''Hagenia'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plant with the sole species ''Hagenia abyssinica'', native to the high-elevation Afromontane regions of central and eastern Africa. It also has a disjunct distribution in the high mountains of East ...

'' also as East African Rosewood * Andaman rosewood, redwood, padauk ('' Pterocarpus dalbergioides'') * Arizona or California Rosewood ('' Vauquelinia californica'') * Australian Rosewood '' Acacia'' spp.; (''

'', ''

Acacia acuminata ''Acacia acuminata'', known as mangart and jam, is a tree in the family Fabaceae. Endemic to Western Australia, it occurs throughout the south west of the State. It is common in the Wheatbelt, and also extends into the semi-arid interior. ...

'', '' Acacia rhodoxylon'' also as Inland Rosewood, ''

Acacia binervia ''Acacia binervia'', commonly known as the coast myall, is a wattle native to New South Wales and Victoria. It can grow as a shrub or as a tree reaching 16 m in height. This plant is reportedly toxic to livestock as the foliage (phyllodes) conta ...

'') and others like (''

Acacia spania ''Acacia spania'', also known as western rosewood, is a tree belonging to the genus ''Acacia'' and the subgenus ''Juliflorae'' that is endemic to north eastern Australia. Description The single stemmed tree that can grow to a height of around a ...

'') also as Western Rosewood, ('' Acacia melanoxylon'') also as Australian Blackwood etc. * Bastard Rosewood, Australian Rosewood ('' Synoum glandulosum'') also as Scentless Rosewood, (''

Knightia excelsa ''Knightia excelsa'', commonly called rewarewa (from Māori), is an evergreen tree endemic to the low elevation and valley forests of New Zealand's North Island and Marlborough Sounds (41° S) and the type species for the genus '' Knightia''. ...

'') * Bolivian Rosewood, Santos Rosewood, Pau Ferro, Morado, '' Machaerium'' spp.; (''

''), ('' Machaerium acutifolium''), ('' Machaerium villosum'') * Brazilian Rosewood (''

Dicypellium caryophyllaceum ''Dicypellium'' is a genus of two species of flowering plants in the family Lauraceae, native to tropical South America, in Amazon Basin. Diagnostic characters: they are trees, with the flowers not involucrated, ovary (plants), ovary superior, n ...

''), ('' Physocalymma scaberrimum'') also as Amazone Rosewood * (Brazilian) Rosewood, Cayenne Rosewood, Pau Rosa, Bois de rose (femelle) ('' Aniba rosaeodora''), ('' Aniba parviflora'') and others ( rosewood oil) * Burmese Rosewood (''

Pterocarpus macrocarpus ''Pterocarpus macrocarpus'', or Burma padauk, is a tree native to the seasonal tropical forests of southeastern Asia: in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. It has been naturalized in India and the Caribbean. Description ''Pterocarp ...

''), (''

'') also as New Guinea Rosewood or Andaman Rosewood, Narra * Canary Rosewood ('' Genista canariensis''), (''

Convolvulus scoparius ''Convolvulus'' is a genus of about 200 to 250''Convolvulus''.
Flora of China.

'') * Caribbean Rosewood (''

Metopium brownei ''Metopium brownei'' (also known as chechem, chechen, or black poisonwood) is a species of plant in the family Anacardiaceae. Distribution and habitat It is found in Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Cuba, Jamaica, northern Guatemal ...

'') * Cayenne Rosewood, ''Bois de rose mâle'' (''

Ocotea cernua ''Ocotea'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Lauraceae. Many are evergreen trees with lauroid leaves. There are over 520 species currently accepted within the genus, distributed mostly in tropical and subtropical areas of ...

'') or possible to other sources ('' Endlicheria canescens'', '' Licaria cannella'', '' Tetragastris altissima'') * False or Bastard Rosewood; others than ''

Swartzia ''Swartzia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It was named in honor of Swedish botanist Olof Swartz and contains about 200 species. ''Swartzia'' is restricted in its geographical distribution to the New World Tropics, wher ...

'' spp.; ('' Dysoxylum rufum'') also as Hairy Rosewood, ('' Jacaranda mimosifolia ''), (''

Thespesia populnea ''Thespesia populnea'', commonly known as the portia tree (), Pacific rosewood, Indian tulip tree, or milo, among other names, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is a tree found commonly on coasts ar ...

'', '' Thespesia populneoides'') also as Pacific and Tahitian Rosewood or Polynesian Rosewood, Macawood, Granadillo ('' Platymiscium'' spp.) * Guyana Rosewood, Bastard Rosewood ('' Swartzia benthamiana'', '' Swartzia leiocalycina''), ('' Swartzia cubensis'') also as Northern Rosewood and for (''

Licaria guianensis ''Licaria'' is a flowering plant genus in the family Lauraceae, native to Central America and South America. It is a Neotropical genus with around 80 species. Overview ''Licaria'' is a Neotropical genus consisting of about 80 species distributed ...

'') also French Rosewood * Jamaica Rosewood ('' Erithalis fruticosa'') * Japanese Rosewood ('' Myrospermum erythroxylum'') * Mexican Rosewood, Dominican, Mayan Rosewood, Bocote; Barcino ('' Cordia elaeagnoides''), Bojon ('' Cordia gerascanthus''), Freijo (''

Cordia alliodora ''Cordia alliodora'' is a species of flowering tree in the borage family, Boraginaceae, that is native to the American tropics. It is commonly known as Spanish elm, Ecuador laurel, cypre or salmwood. It can reach 35 m in height. Uses ''Cordia ...

''), Louro Preto ('' Cordia megalantha''), Ziricote ('' Cordia dodecandra'') * Patagonian Rosewood (''

Anadenanthera colubrina ''Anadenanthera colubrina'' (also known as vilca, huilco, huilca, wilco, willka, curupay, curupau, cebil, or angico) is a South American tree closely related to yopo, or ''Anadenanthera peregrina''. It grows to tall and the trunk is very thorn ...

'') * Tiete Rosewood ('' Guibourtia hymenaeifolia''), ('' Guibourtia chodatiana'') * Rhodesian Rosewood (''Guibourtia coleosperma'') see African Rosewood * West Indian Rosewood, Jamaica Rosewood, White Rosewood ('' Amyris balsamifera''); also as Lignum rhodium * Rosewood, Australian Rose Mahogany, Bastard Rosewood (''

'') * Western Rosewood, Inland Rosewood ('' Alectryon oleifolius'') * White Rosewood (''

Chionanthus ligustrinus ''Chionanthus'' , common name: fringetrees, is a genus of about 150 species of flowering plants in the family Oleaceae. The genus has a wide distribution primarily in the tropics and subtropics, but with three species extending north into te ...

''), ('' Anthocarapa nitidula'') * (Pau Ferro, Pau Rosa), rosewood substitute, ('' Machaerium firmum''), ('' Bobgunnia fistuloides''), ('' Bobgunnia madagascariensis''), ('' Berchemia zeyheri'') * Only because of scent; Rosewood oil, Oleum Ligni Rhodii, ('' Convolvulus floridus'' und ''

Convolvulus scoparius ''Convolvulus'' is a genus of about 200 to 250''Convolvulus''.
Flora of China.

''); also as Lignum rhodium, Lignum cyprinum * Other rosewoods; ''

Colliguaja odorifera ''Colliguaja odorifera'' is a lignotuberous species of the family Euphorbiaceae. Occurrence is in portions of South America, specifically in the Chilean matorral, where it can be found on both south and north-facing slopes. Each of these slopes h ...

'', '' Erythroxylum havanense''

References

External links

* {{Woodworking Wood Plant common names