Search for

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 Comments 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 Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Weathering Scientific Name Dalbergia stevensonii Trade Name Honduras rosewood Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Ciruelo, Honduras rosenholz, Honduras rosewood, Nagaed, Nogaed, Nogaed wood, Palisandre du Honduras, Palisandro de Honduras, Rosewood, South American rosewood Regions of Distribution Central America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize Common Uses Bedroom suites, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Furniture , Furniture, Handles, Handles: woodworking tools, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Marquetry, Moldings, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Musical instruments: piano, Musical instruments: strings, Office furniture, Organ pipes, Piano keys, Pianos , Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Shafts/Handles, Sounding boards, Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Violin bows, Violin, Xylophones Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview This species is endemic to Belize. It is restricted to the southern part of the country between latitudes 16-17 ° N. It has been reported to occur in fairly large patches along rivers but also on inter-riverain and drier areas; mostly between Sarstoon and Monkey Rivers. Heartwood Color Brown Black Purple Pale red to pink Brown Pale brown Initially pink brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Figure Straight Distinct (figure) Other (figure) Even Stripe (figure) Variable (figure) Straight Distinct figure Other figure Striped figure Irregular color Texture Fine Coarse Medium Fine to medium Medium to coarse Coarse Luster Lustrous Low to Medium Natural Durability Durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately resistant to attack by termites Durable The sapwood is reported to deteriorate rapidly in contact with the ground. Weathering Good Odor No distinctive odor when seasoned May have a slightly bitter taste When freshly cut, the bark and sapwood have a characteristic odor similar to that of stored apples Toxicity Dramatic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US Schedule C (4/4) United Kingdom. Drying Defects Splitting Checking Severe surface checking Moderate end spitting Slight checking and cracking Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Radial and tangential shrinkage from 1-2% Dries slowly Drying periods of two to seven years are required to season the wood for certain specific applications Tree Identification Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm The papery bark is about 0.25 inch (0.62 cm) thick. Trunks are typically fluted and short, and are usually forked at about 25 to 30 feet (8 to 9 m) above the ground Product Sources The natural growth range of Honduras rosewood is restricted to a very small area which tends to limit its supplies on the commercial market. Limited quantities of Rosewood in the form of both veneer and lumber can, however, be obtained at high prices from importers. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Blunting effect on sawing green wood is severe Blunting effect on machining is severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult May Blunt cutting edges and interfere with boring operations Difficult Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Moderate to fairly difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Shape retention after manufacture is usually good Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Interlocked grain produces distinct ribbon figure Difficult to plane It tends to ride on cutters. A cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Poorly Easy to Work Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing Pre-boring recommended Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to turn Good results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Poor results Satisfactory results Grain filling required for satisfactory results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) =53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu.ft. Honduras rosewood is denser and tougher than Brazilian rosewood. Its strength properties are rated as less than outstanding, and it is usually used in applications where qualities other than strength are more desired Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 57 lbs/ft3 Specific Gravity 0.73 0.88 Weight 56 49 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Density 913 kg/m3 Specific Gravity 0.73 0.88 References American Walnut Manufactures Association (AWMA). 1987. Fine Hardwoods Selectorama: A Guide to the Selection and Use of the World's Most Popular Species. Published by AWMA, 5603 West Raymond Street, Suite O, Indianapolis, Indiana in Co-operation with Fine Hardwood Veneer Association. Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia Boone, R.S., Kozlik, C.J., Bois, P.J., Wengert, E.M. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 9 Central America and the Caribbean,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Constantine, Jr., A.J. 1975. Know your Woods: A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers. Revised Edition. Revised by H.J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner and Sons, New York. Cox, H.A.,1939,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1955,Kiln-Drying Schedules,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment Leaflet,No.42 HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer, Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Imported Wood Purchasing Guide: A Comprehensive Purchasing Reference for Imported Woods. 20th Edition. 1992. International Wood Trade Publication, Inc., 1235 Sycamore View, P. O. Box 34908, Memphis Tennessee. Kaiser, J. Wood of the Month - Rosewood. Wood and Wood Products, January 1987. Kline, M. 1980. Dalbergia stevensonii - Honduras rosewood. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. Page 135-136. Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207 Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Record, S.J.,1942,American Timbers of the Genera Dalbergia and Machaerium,Tropical Woods,9(72,pp1-10 Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13