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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Steam Bending Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Dalbergia baronii Trade Name Madagascar rosewood Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Madagascar rosewood, Palissandre voamboana Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Madagascar Common Uses Building materials, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments , Office furniture, Organ pipes, Parquet flooring, Piano keys, Pianos , Precision instruments, Shipbuilding, Turnery, Veneer Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Madagascar. The species is mainly found in evergreen humid rainforest  at low altitudes, along streams, rivers, in marshy areas and the back of mangrove stands. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Black Gray buff Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Coarse Medium Fine Luster Low Natural Durability Very durable Durable Moderately durable Resistant to termites The heartwood has very low natural resistance to decay, and should not be used under conditions that promote decay Drying Defects Splitting Checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Thick Stock Requires Care Rapidly Slowly Little degrade Little degrade if dried properly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries quickly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Blunting Effect High to severe Boring Fair to good results Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting resistance is small Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Variable gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Shape retention after manufacture is usually good Dimensional stability is generally very good Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Satisfactory nailing properties Pre-boring recommended Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Generally easy to use hand tools Easy to use machine tools Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Possible if prebored Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Painting Takes oil-based paints with some difficulty Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Excellent results Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 16961 psi Maximum Crushing Strength 8663 psi Stiffness 1742 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.47 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1192 kg/cm2 Maximum Crushing Strength 609 kg/cm2 Stiffness 122 1000 kg/cm2 References Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research