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 genus has a wide distribution, native to the tropical regions of Central and South America, Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia.
Fossil record
A fossil †Dalbergia phleboptera seed pod has been found in a Chattian deposit, in the municipality of Aix-en-Provence in France. Fossils of †Dalbergia nostratum have been found in rhyodacite tuff of Lower Miocene age in Southern Slovakia near the town of Lučenec. Fossil seed pods of †Dalbergia mecsekense have been found in a Sarmatian deposit in Hungary. †Dalbergia lucida fossils have been described from the Xiaolongtan Formation of late Miocene age in Kaiyuan County, Yunnan Province, China.
Uses
Many species of Dalbergia are important timber trees, valued for their decorative and often fragrant wood, rich in aromatic oils. The most famous of these are the rosewoods, so-named because of the smell of the timber when cut, but several other valuable woods are yielded by the genus.
Species such as Dalbergia nigra known as Rio, Bahia, Brazilian rosewood, palisander de Rio Grande, or jacaranda and Dalbergia latifolia known as (East) Indian Rosewood or Sonokeling have been heavily used in furniture given their colour and grain. Several East Asian species are important materials in traditional Chinese furniture.
The (Brazilian) tulipwood (D. decipularis) is cream coloured with red or salmon stripes. It is most often used in crossbanding and other veneers; it should not be confused with the "tulipwood" of the American tulip tree Liriodendron tulipifera, used in inexpensive cabinetwork.
The similarly used (but purple with darker stripes), and also Brazilian, kingwood is yielded by D. cearensis. Both are smallish to medium-sized trees, to 10 m. Another notable timber is cocobolo, mainly from D. retusa, a Central American timber with spectacular decorative orange red figure on freshly cut surfaces which quickly fades in air to more subdued tones and hues.
Dalbergia sissoo (Indian rosewood) is primarily used for furniture in northern India. Its export is highly regulated due to recent high rates of tree death due to unknown causes. Dalbergia sissoo has historically been the primary rosewood species of northern India. This wood is strong and tough, with color golden to dark brown. It is extremely durable and handsome, and it maintains its shape well. It can be easily seasoned. It is difficult to work, but it takes a fine polish. It is used for high quality furniture, plywoods, bridge piles, sporting goods, and railway sleepers. It is a very good material for decorative work and carvings. Its density is 770 kg/m3.
African blackwood (D. melanoxylon) is an intensely black wood in demand for making woodwind musical instruments.
Dalbergia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Bucculatrix mendax which feeds exclusively on Dalbergia sissoo.
The Dalbergia species are notorious for causing allergic reactions due to the presence of sensitizing quinones in the wood.
Conservation
All Dalbergia species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). All but Dalbergia nigra are listed in Appendix II, with D.nigra listed in Appendix I.
Species
Dalbergia comprises the following species:
Dalbergia abbreviata Craib
Dalbergia abrahamii Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia acariiantha Harms
Dalbergia acuta Benth.
Dalbergia acutifoliolata Mendonca & Sousa
Dalbergia adami Berhaut
Dalbergia afzeliana G. Don
Dalbergia ajudana Harms
Dalbergia albertisii Prain
Dalbergia albiflora Hutch. & Dalziel
subsp. albiflora Hutch. & Dalziel
subsp. echinocarpa Hepper
Dalbergia altissima Baker f.
Dalbergia altissima Pittier
Dalbergia amazonica (Radlk.) Ducke
Dalbergia andapensis Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia antsirananae Phillipson, Crameri & N.Wilding
Dalbergia arbutifolia Baker
Dalbergia armata E. Mey. — Hluhluwe creeper
Dalbergia assamica Benth.
Dalbergia aurea Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia bakeri Baker
Dalbergia balansae Prain
Dalbergia baronii Baker — Madagascar rosewood, Palisander rosewood, Palissandre voamboana
Dalbergia bathiei R. Vig.
Dalbergia beccarii Prain
Dalbergia beddomei Thoth.
Dalbergia benthamii Prain
Dalbergia bignonae Berhaut
Dalbergia bintuluensis Sunarno & Ohashi
Dalbergia boehmii Taub.
Dalbergia bojeri Drake
Dalbergia boniana Gagnep.
Dalbergia borneensis Prain
Dalbergia brachystachya Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia bracteolata Baker
Dalbergia brasiliensis Vogel
Dalbergia brownei (Jacq.) Urb. — Coin vine
Dalbergia burmanica Prain
Dalbergia calderonii Standl.
subsp. calderonii Standl.
subsp. molinae Rudd
Dalbergia calycina Benth.
Dalbergia campenonii Drake
Dalbergia cana Kurz
Dalbergia candenatensis (Dennst.) Prain
Dalbergia canescens (Elmer) Merr.
Dalbergia capuronii Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia carringtoniana Sousa
Dalbergia catingicola Harms
Dalbergia caudata G. Don
Dalbergia cearensis Ducke — Kingwood
Dalbergia chapelieri Baill.
Dalbergia chlorocarpa R. Vig.
Dalbergia chontalensis Standl. & L.O. Williams
Dalbergia clarkei Thoth.
Dalbergia cochinchinensis Pierre ex Laness. — Siamese rosewood, Thailand rosewood, Tracwood (synonym Dalbergia cambodiana Pierre)
Dalbergia commiphoroides Baker f.
Dalbergia confertiflora Benth.
Dalbergia congensis Baker f.
Dalbergia congesta Wight & Arn.
Dalbergia congestiflora Pittier
Dalbergia coromandeliana Prain
Dalbergia crispa Hepper
Dalbergia cubilquitzensis (Donn. Sm.) Pittier
Dalbergia cucullata Pittier
Dalbergia cuiabensis Benth.
Dalbergia cultrata Benth.
Dalbergia cumingiana Benth.
Dalbergia curtisii Prain
Dalbergia cuscatlanica (Standl.) Standl.
Dalbergia dalzielii Hutch. & Dalziel
Dalbergia darienensis Rudd
Dalbergia davidii Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia debilis J.F. Macbr.
Dalbergia decipularis Rizzini & A. Mattos — Tulipwood
Dalbergia delphinensis Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia densa Benth.
Dalbergia densiflora (Benth.) Benth.
Dalbergia discolor Blume
Dalbergia duarensis Thoth.
Dalbergia dyeriana Harms
Dalbergia ealaensis De Wild.
Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub. — Coin vine
Dalbergia elegans A.M. Carvalho
Dalbergia emirnensis Benth.
Dalbergia enneaphylla Pittier
Dalbergia entadoides Prain
Dalbergia eremicola Polhill
Dalbergia ernest-ulei Hoehne
Dalbergia errans Craib
Dalbergia erubescens Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia falcata Prain
Dalbergia fischeri Taub.
Dalbergia floribunda Craib
Dalbergia florifera De Wild.
Dalbergia foliolosa Benth.
Dalbergia foliosa (Benth.) A.M. Carvalho
Dalbergia forbesii Prain
Dalbergia fouilloyana Pellegr.
Dalbergia frutescens (Vell.) Britton — Brazilian tulipwood, Jacarandá rosa, Pau de fuso, Pau rosa, Pinkwood, Tulipwood
Dalbergia funera Standl.
Dalbergia fusca Pierre
Dalbergia gardneriana Benth.
Dalbergia gentilii De Wild.
Dalbergia gilbertii Cronquist
Dalbergia glaberrima Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia glabra (Mill.) Standl.
Dalbergia glandulosa Benth.
Dalbergia glaucescens (Benth.) Benth.
Dalbergia glaucocarpa Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia glaziovii Harms
Dalbergia glomerata Hemsl.
Dalbergia godefroyi Prain
Dalbergia gossweileri Baker f.
Dalbergia gracilis Benth.
Dalbergia granadillo Pittier
Dalbergia grandibracteata De Wild.
Dalbergia grandistipula A.M. Carvalho
Dalbergia greveana Baill.
Dalbergia guttembergii A.M. Carvalho
Dalbergia hainanensis Merr. & Chun
Dalbergia hancei Benth.
Dalbergia havilandii Prain
Dalbergia henryana Prain
Dalbergia heudelotii Stapf
Dalbergia hiemalis Malme
Dalbergia hildebrandtii Vatke
Dalbergia hirticalyx Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia horrida (Dennst.) Mabb.
Dalbergia hortensis Heringer & al.
Dalbergia hoseana Prain
Dalbergia hostilis Benth.
Dalbergia hullettii Prain
Dalbergia humbertii R. Vig.
Dalbergia hupeana Hance
Dalbergia hygrophila (Benth.) Hoehne
Dalbergia intermedia A.M. Carvalho
Dalbergia intibucana Standl. & L.O. Williams
Dalbergia inundata Benth.
Dalbergia iquitosensis Harms
Dalbergia jaherii Burck
Dalbergia junghuhnii Benth.
Dalbergia kerrii Craib
Dalbergia kingiana Prain
Dalbergia kisantuensis De Wild. & T. Durand
Dalbergia kostermansii Sunarno & Ohashi
Dalbergia kunstleri Prain
Dalbergia kurzii Prain
Dalbergia lacei Thoth.
Dalbergia lactea Vatke
Dalbergia lakhonensis Gagnep.
Dalbergia lanceolaria L. f.
Dalbergia lastoursvillensis Pellegr.
Dalbergia lateriflora Benth.
Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. — Bombay blackwood, East Indian rosewood, Indian palisandre, Indian rosewood, Irugudujava, Java palisandre, Malabar, Sonokeling, Shisham, Sitsal, Satisal
Dalbergia laxiflora Micheli
Dalbergia lemurica Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia librevillensis Pellegr.
Dalbergia louisii Cronquist
Dalbergia louvelii R. Vig. — violet rosewood
Dalbergia macrosperma Baker
Dalbergia madagascariensis Vatke
Dalbergia malabarica Prain
Dalbergia malangensis Sousa
Dalbergia marcaniana Craib
Dalbergia maritima R. Vig.
Dalbergia martinii F. White
Dalbergia mayumbensis Baker f.
Dalbergia melanocardium Pittier
Dalbergia melanoxylon Guill. & Perr. — African blackwood, African ebony, African grenadilo, Banbanus, Ebene, Granadilla, Granadille d'Afrique, Mpingo, Pau preto, Poyi, Zebrawood
Dalbergia menoeides Prain
Dalbergia mexicana Pittier
Dalbergia microphylla Chiov.
Dalbergia millettii Benth.
Dalbergia mimosella (Blanco) Prain
Dalbergia mimosoides Franch.
Dalbergia miscolobium Benth.
Dalbergia mollis Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia monetaria L. f. — Moneybush
Dalbergia monophylla G.A. Black
Dalbergia monticola Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia multijuga E. Mey.
Dalbergia negrensis (Radlk.) Ducke
Dalbergia neoperrieri Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia ngounyensis Pellegr.
Dalbergia nigra (Vell.) Benth. — Bahia rosewood, Brazilian rosewood, Cabiuna, Caviuna, Jacarandá, Jacarandá de Brasil, Palisander, Palisandre da Brésil, Pianowood, Rio rosewood, Rosewood, Obuina
Dalbergia nigrescens Kurz
Dalbergia nitida (Benth.) Hoehne
Dalbergia nitidula Baker
Dalbergia noldeae Harms
Dalbergia normandii Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia obcordata N.Wilding, Phillipson & Crameri
Dalbergia obovata E. Mey. — Climbing flat bean
Dalbergia obtusifolia (Baker) Prain
Dalbergia odorifera T.C. Chen — Fragrant rosewood
Dalbergia oligophylla Hutch. & Dalziel
Dalbergia oliveri Prain (synonyms: Dalbergia bariensis Pierre, Dalbergia dongnaiensis Pierre, D. duperreana Pierre & Dalbergia mammosa Pierre)
Dalbergia orientalis Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia ovata Benth.
Dalbergia pachycarpa (De Wild. & T. Durand) De Wild.
Dalbergia palo-escrito Rzed. — Palo escrito
Dalbergia parviflora Roxb.
Dalbergia paucifoliolata Lundell
Dalbergia peguensis Thoth.
Dalbergia peishaensis Chun & T. Chen
Dalbergia peltieri Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia pervillei Vatke
Dalbergia pierreana Prain
Dalbergia pinnata (Lour.) Prain
Dalbergia pluriflora Baker f.
Dalbergia polyadelpha Prain
Dalbergia polyphylla Benth.
Dalbergia prainii Thoth.
Dalbergia pseudo-ovata Thoth.
Dalbergia pseudo-sissoo Miq.
Dalbergia pseudobaronii R. Vig.
Dalbergia purpurascens Baill.
Dalbergia reniformis Roxb.
Dalbergia reticulata Merr.
Dalbergia retusa Hemsl. — Caviuna, Cocobolo, Cocobolo prieto, Funeram, Granadillo, Jacarandáholz, Nambar, Nicaraguan rosewood, Palisander, Palissandro, Palo negro, Pau preto, Rosewood, Urauna
Dalbergia revoluta Ducke
Dalbergia richardsii Sunarno & Ohashi
Dalbergia riedelii (Benth.) Sandwith
Dalbergia rimosa Roxb.
Dalbergia riparia (Mart.) Benth.
Dalbergia rostrata Hassk.
Dalbergia rubiginosa Roxb.
Dalbergia rufa G. Don
Dalbergia rugosa Hepper
Dalbergia sacerdotum Prain
Dalbergia sambesiaca Schinz
Dalbergia sampaioana Kuhlm. & Hoehne
Dalbergia sandakanensis Sunarno & Ohashi
Dalbergia saxatilis Hook. f.
Dalbergia scortechinii (Prain) Prain
Dalbergia sericea G. Don
Dalbergia setifera Hutch. & Dalziel
Dalbergia simpsonii Rudd
Dalbergia sissoides Wight & Arn.
Dalbergia sissoo DC. — Agara, Agaru, Errasissu, Gette, Hihu, Indian rosewood, Irugudujava, Iruvil, Iti, Khujrap, Padimi, Safedar, Sheesham, Shinshapa, Shisham, Shishma, Shishom, Sinsupa, Sissoo, Sisu, Tali, Tenach, Tukreekung, Yette
Dalbergia spinosa Roxb.
Dalbergia spruceana (Benth.) Benth. — Amazon rosewood
Dalbergia stenophylla Prain
Dalbergia stercoracea Prain
Dalbergia stevensonii Standl. — Honduras rosewood, Nagaed
Dalbergia stipulacea Roxb.
Dalbergia suaresensis Baill.
Dalbergia subcymosa Ducke
Dalbergia succirubra Gagnep. & Craib
Dalbergia teijsmannii Sunarno & Ohashi
Dalbergia teixeirae Sousa
Dalbergia thomsonii Benth.
Dalbergia thorelii Gagnep.
Dalbergia tilarana N. Zamora
Dalbergia tinnevelliensis Thoth.
Dalbergia tonkinensis Prain
Dalbergia travancorica Thoth.
Dalbergia trichocarpa Baker
Dalbergia tricolor Drake
Dalbergia tsaratananensis Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia tsiandalana R. Vig.
Dalbergia tsoi Merr. & Chun
Dalbergia tucurensis Donn. Sm. — Guatemalan rosewood
Dalbergia uarandensis (Chiov.) Thulin
Dalbergia urschii Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia vacciniifolia Vatke
Dalbergia velutina Benth.
Dalbergia verrucosa Craib
Dalbergia viguieri Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia villosa (Benth.) Benth.
Dalbergia volubilis Roxb.
Dalbergia wattii C.B. Clarke
Dalbergia xerophila Bosser & R. Rabev.
Dalbergia yunnanensis Franch.
References
External links
Fabaceae genera