| | CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification and information retrieval |
Nomenclature. Family: FABACEAE-FABOIDEAE. Synonym(s): Amerimnon latifolium, Dalbergia javanica, D. emarginata. Further trade and local names: Ostindisch Palisander, Java Palisander (DE); shima, shisham (IN); East Indian rosewood, black rosewood, blackwood, Indian blackwood, Bombay blackwood, Malabar rosewood (GB, trade); palissandre de l'Inde, palissandre d'Asie (FR). Code according to DIN EN 13556: DLLT.
CITES(EU) status of protection. Listed in Annex II(B).
Similar timbers. Other Dalbergia species of the characteristic brownish-violet colour such as Dalbergia cochinchinensis (Indochina), D. congestiflora (México), D. odorifera (China), D. spruceana (Brazil).
Geographic distribution. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Indomalesia (this species is also cultivated in many regions of India and Pakistan). Indian sub-continent, Java.
Growth rings, colour, grain, etc. Growth ring boundaries distinct, or indistinct or absent. Growth ring limits rarely indicated by a decrease in pore diameter (latewood) in combination with a marginal parenchyma band. Heartwood basically brown and purple (light nearly golden brown to shades of light rose-purple, darkening to deep purplish brown); with streaks (dark brown to black). Sapwood distinct from heartwood colour (yellowish white, often with pinkish tinge). Odour distinct (hardly sweetish, similar to that of a sweating horse). Wood of medium weight to heavy and hard (0.77–0.88–0.93 g/cm3). Interlocked grain present, or absent.
Hardwood vs softwood. Vessels (pores) present (= hardwood).
Vessels (pores). Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels (pores) arranged in no specific pattern; in multiples; commonly in short (2–3 vessels) radial rows and in radial rows of 4 or more (few). Vessels rather unevenly distributed over the cross section. Vessels medium to large (80–125–175 µm); few (4–8). Tyloses absent. Other deposits in heartwood vessels (pores) present (dark purplish brown).
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma present; banded and not banded. Parenchyma bands not (only) marginal; narrow to wide; much wider than rays. Other macroscopically visible types of axial parenchyma: aliform lozenge type, aliform winged, confluent. Confluent parenchyma forming continuous wavy bands in some specimens.
Rays. Rays narrow. Large rays commonly less than 1 mm high.
Storied structure. Storied structure present. Tiers regular (horizontal or slightly inclined); 4–5 per axial millimetre. Rays, axial parenchyma, vessels (pores) and fibres storied.
Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood not fluorescent. Water extract fluorescent (depending on specimen very variable: shades of blue (greyish blue, light blue, light greenish blue); colour shade of water extract colourless to brown. Ethanol extract fluorescent (depending on specimen variable: shades of yellowish brown to orange); colour shade of ethanol extract red to purple. Froth test positive. Splinter burns to partial ash; colour of ash white to grey.
Additional information. See also: Informationsdienst Holz Merkblatt Nr. 53. • Transverse section + wood surface. Transverse section ca. 10x. Radial surface, natural size.
The interactive key allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting specified attributes, summaries of attributes within groups of taxa, and geographical distribution.
Cite this publication as: ‘Richter, H.G., Gembruch, K., and Koch, G. 2014 onwards. CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. In English, French, German, and Spanish. Version: 4th April 2023. www.delta-intkey.com’.
