238 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



RiNGAS. Melanorrhoea sp. Weight, 42 lbs. 2 oz. Borneo. 



This is the rosewood of Borneo. The wood is a deep reddish colour, 

 having lighter and darker streaks, which give it a very pleasing appear- 

 ance. It is of a fairly hard substance and close texture. It takes a 

 beautiful smooth surface from the tool, and would have a handsome 

 effect in decorative furniture. 



According to Foxworthy, ringas has poisonous properties, so that in 

 its native country it is said to be going out of general use ; the poison 

 is said to affect a person even after the wood is made up into furniture. 



The annual layers are clearly marked with wide, uneven medullary 

 rays and open pores equally distributed, showing a marked difference 

 between the spring and autumn growth. 



RiUGAN. Pametia pinnata, Forst. Weight, 55 lbs. Formosa. 



The wood is very heavy, dense, and close-grained, and is largely 

 marked with a wavy grain. It is of a hght cherry colour similar to 

 English cherry-wood. It would be a useful timber for many purposes 

 if regular suppUes could be maintained, but so far it has not been 

 imported commercially into the United Kingdom. 



The pores are line and glisten with bright spots of gum. The exceed- 

 ingly numerous medullary rays are very fine and clean cut ; they are 

 parallel and nearly equidistant. 



Rosewood, Bahia, and Rosewood, Rio. Also known as Jacaranda- 

 wood and Palisander- wood. Source unknown. Weight, 54 lbs. 

 Brazil. 



According to most authorities the wood is produced from many 

 botanical species. Amongst these Baterden mentions Dalbergia nigra, 

 Machoerium incorruptibile, and M. legale. Brazilian Woods notes that 

 rosewood is furnished from the three following sorts : Dalbergia nigra, 

 Fr. Allem. ; Machoerium allemani, Benth. ; and M. violaceum, Fr. AUem. 

 An entirely distinct wood, known in Brazil as rosewood or Pao rosa {q.v.), 

 is the product of Physocalymma floridum. It should not, however, be 

 confounded with any of the above species. 



The wood is so exceedingly well known that it seems almost super- 

 fluous to describe it. Its popularity has, however, considerably diminished 

 during the last twenty years. Indeed, except in the manufacture of pianos, 

 it has hardly been used, though this is surprising in view of its 

 undoubtedly high qualities. The trees produce many varying descriptions 

 of colour and figure. The grain has a very firm, hard, and close texture ; 

 it is capable of an exceedingly smooth surface. The colour fades some- 

 what on exposure to hght. This is not necessarily a disadvantage. 



