African Blackwood / Grenadillo

Dalbergia melanoxylon

Family: Leguminosae

Other Names: Congowood, Mozambique ebony, Senegal ebony Cape Damson ebony.

Distribution: This African tree has an extensive range on the continent. It can be found in the savanna regions of the Sudan southward to Mozambique, then westward to Angola and northward to Nigeria and Senegal.

The Tree: this small tree is about 30 ft. (9.1 m) maximum height, and a diameter of 8 in. (203mm). Managed Timber Resources LLC has trees of this species that average 50 to 60 ft. (15.2 to 18.3m) tall and with a diameter of 1’-8” (50cm) and up.

The Timber: the heartwood is dark purplish black or brown with black streaks which usually predominate so that the general effect is nearly black. The luster is dull and odor and taste are not distinct. It is very hard and heavy wood with a weight of 82 lb/ft 3 (1,314 kg/m 3 ). The grain is mostly straight with a fine texture. It has a slightly

oily nature. The narrow sapwood is white and very clearly defined.

Seasoning: Blackwood dries very slowly and tends to split, especially in the log. It is advisable to coat the ends to minimize the splitting. Once dried, the timber is slow to absorb moisture.

Durability: The heartwood is said to be very durable.

Working Qualities: This wood has exceptionally good working qualities. It cuts very smooth and evenly, taking an excellent finish directly form the tool of the drill or lathe. It can be tapped for screw threads almost like metal. It is considered to be the best wood available for ornamental turnery.

Uses: A chief use is for woodwind instruments such as flutes, clarinets, bag pipes, etc... It is superior to ebony for this purpose because of its oily nature and resistance to climactic changes. The wood is also used for turnery in making such items as brush backs. Knife handles, chessmen and pool cues.

The timber being harvested by Managed Timber Resources LLC is of larger size (length and width) than African Blackwood from other producers. The Blackwood being harvested is of superior quality. The wood is almost a pure black with a high oil content. Based on Government of Mozambique export quotas, MTR has over 500 years of supplies of Blackwood trees standing in our concessions.

The photo at right shows the size of the typical Blackwood tree in the MTR concessions. The picture shows our field supervisor sitting on a blackwood butt log. The size of this butt log is 3 ft (90 cm) in diameter and 12 ft (3.7m) in length. The branches are larger than the average blackwood tree.

The photo at left shows our Managing Director sitting with some of our workers in an area of blackwood trees that will not be harvested due to the small size of the trees. These trees are the standard size of most blackwood trees being harvested today, by other producers of African Blackwood.

Please note the butt log of a blackwood tree (in lower right edge of photo) that will be transported to Beira and converted to material for the woodwind instrument industry.