TIMBERS AND WOODS 293 



rare, variegated sort of ebony obtained from the tree D. 

 qtKBsita. Ebony is used for canes, inlaying, fine cabinets and 

 furniture, piano keys, violin keyboards, rulers, and other sim- 

 ilar purposes. The wood is very fine-grained and does not 

 warp. The ebony of commerce comes largely from India, 

 Ceylon, Malaya, Java, the Philippines, Africa, and Mauritius. 



Lignum vitae (Guaiacum officinale) is a tree native to South 

 America and the West Indies. This tree furnishes perhaps the 

 heaviest of all woods. The fibers are much twisted and the 

 color of the wood is dark brown with black streaks. It is 

 extremely tough and is therefore used in the manufacture 

 of bowling balls, rollers, propeller bushing, and for similar 

 purposes. Lignum vitae is becoming scarce and substitutes 

 for it are much sought. Perhaps the best substitute for this 

 wood is mancono (Xanthostemon verdugonianus) of the Phil- 

 ippines. Mancono wood is of about the same specific gravity 

 and toughness as lignum vitae and is even harder. Many 

 other woods are also used as substitutes for lignum vitae, espe- 

 cially Calophyllum inophyllum and Dodoncea viscosa. 



Mahogany {Swietenia mahogwni) is a tree native to Central 

 America and South America. The tree was first brought to 

 Europe by Spanish explorers. This and related species have 

 been introduced into India and the Philippines, where they are 

 cultivated to some extent. Mahogany is becoming so scarce 

 that about 25 substitutes are in use to replace it. Mahogany 

 is the most highly prized of cabinet woods. It is used for 

 fine cabinet purposes, furniture, and piano cases, now mostly 

 as a veneer. In the Philippines Pterocarpus indicus yields a 

 wood which is called Philippine mahogany. This wood varies 

 from straw color to blood red. The trees reach such size that' 

 planks 25 feet long and 6 feet wide have been obtained. It 

 takes a high polish. Philippine mahogany is used extensively 

 for cigar boxes. 



Kauri pine (Agathis robusta) , of New Zealand and Queens- 

 land, is a stately conifer 150 feet high, often with a fine bole 



