INDIAN ROSEWOOD 



and a strong light), appears golden in the solid : also narrowly 

 encircling the pores : size varying from 4-6 (ray-scale), and about 

 5-7 per mm. : not everywhere visible, apparently absent in the 

 black bands. 



Radial Section. Pores almost always filled with black gum or 

 resin more easily seen by reflection. Rays visible in certain 

 lights, very small, inconspicuous, narrow, shining flakes. Rings 

 not traceable, but the pigment-bands are very prominent. 



Tangential Section. As the Radial, but the rays are minute 

 lines scarcely traceable with the micro. (2 inch objective). 



Type specimens from commercial sources. Not authenticated 

 but no doubt this species. The extreme variation in some respects 

 points rather to more that one species. 



A specimen sent me under the name of " Wanx River Rose- 

 wood," undoubtedly a Dalbergia, but differs from the above in 

 the large pores, size 1, the weight 44 lbs. per cu. ft., the Hard- 

 ness, Grade 3, compare Blackthorn, and the colour, which is 

 nut-brown or walnut. 



A second variety sent me as " Madagascar Rosewood," also 

 belongs to this genus, and agrees with D. nigra but has a rather 

 different smell, rather fewer rays (8-10 per mm.), a well-defined 

 pore-ring with pores rapidly diminishing in size from the inner 

 to the outer side of the ring and practically no soft-tissue encir- 

 cling the pores. 



A third variety has been sent me as " Bahia Rosewood." 



No. 54. INDIAN ROSEWOOD. Dalbergia 



latifolia. Roxb. 

 Plate V. Fig. 37. 



Natural Order. Leguminosese. 



Synonyms. D. marginata. Roxb. D. javanica. Miq. 



Alternative Names. Blackwood in Southern India and very 

 many others in the Indian vernacular (see Gamble). Bombay 

 or Rosetta Rosewood. 



Sources of Supply. Oudh, Eastern Bengal, Central and 

 Southern India, Malabar, Kanara (37). 



Physical Characters, etc. Recorded dry-weight 46-64 lbs. 

 per cu. ft. Hardness Grade 1, compare Ebony. Smell fragrant, 

 like rose-water. Taste none. Solution with water, sepia : after- 

 wards with cold alcohol, purple. Burns well with lively flame, 

 embers glow in still air, gives off the typical Dalbergia smell 

 during combustion. 



Grain. Very even, though moderately coarse and open. 

 Surface bright, the pores dull, the rays shining, the ground 

 bright. 



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