Scientific Name
Diospyros ebenum
Trade Name
Black ebony
Family Name
Ebenaceae
Common Names
Abnus, Acha, Bale, Black ebony, Dumbi, Ebans, Ebony, Kakataki, Karemara, Karimaran, Karu, Karunthali, Karunthoverai, Kendhu, Mallali, Mushtimbe, Nallati, Nalluti, Shengutan, Tai, Tendu, Tuki, Tumbi, Tumiki
Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
India, Sri Lanka
Common Uses
Carvings, Inlay work, Musical instruments , Piano keys, Turnery
Environmental Profile
| Status unknown due to inadequate information | ||||||||||||
| Status has not been officially assessed | ||||||||||||
| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center |
Distribution Overview
Southern India and Sri Lanka, cultivated in Peninsular Malaysia. In India it is found in the hills of the Deccan and Carnatic, extending north to the Cuddapah and Kurnool districts. Prefers dry forests. Grows as an understorey tree in mixed evergreen dry zone forests of Sri Lanka..
Heartwood Color
| Black | ||||||||||||
| Highly variable | ||||||||||||
| Lustrous dark brown to black | ||||||||||||
| Jet black |
Sapwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Grey | ||||||||||||
| Frequently streaked with black |
Grain
| Closed | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Irregular |
| May be straight, irregular, or wavy | ||||||||||||
| Closed |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Even or uniform | ||||||||||||
| Uniform | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Even textured |
The wood is very hard
Luster
| Metallic luster |
Natural Durability
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood has high natural resistance to decay |
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
Drying Defects
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Wetwood may cause honeycomb, collapse and waterpockets | ||||||||||||
| Severe drying schedules may result in end and surface checking |
Black portions are especially prone to checking
Ease of Drying
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Requires care to minimize degrade |
To minimize drying degrade, material should be converted into the smallest sizes possible, and should be well protected
Tree Size
| Bole length is 0-10 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 10-20 m |
The tree is relatively small
Product Sources
The principal source of Ebony timber in India, the tree is seldom harvested for export since it is rarely obtainable in sufficient sizes and quantities.
Blunting Effect
| High to severe | ||||||||||||
| Severe blunting effect on cutting surfaces |
The wood is hard and heavy
Boring
| Fairly difficult to very difficult |
Carving
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Very good results |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to glue |
Mortising
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Moulding
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Movement in Service
| Stable | ||||||||||||
| Small |
Nailing
| Pre-Boring Recommended | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Planing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| High density makes wood difficult to plane and work | ||||||||||||
| Hard, heavy wood dulls cutting edges severely | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to plane |
Black ebony is hard and brittle, and chips easily. It is difficult to work in planing and most operations, and tends to dull cutters severely since it is hard and heavy
Response to Hand Tools
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work |
Routing & Recessing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Screwing
| Pre-boring recommended | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Turning
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Excellent |
Polishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Excellent results |
Strength Properties
| Heavy |
The wood is exceptionally heavy. It weighs much more than Hard maple or Teak in the green or seasoned condition.
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Specific Gravity | 0.84 | ||
| Weight | 72 | 59. | lbs/ft3 |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Specific Gravity | 0.84 |
References
Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1992. Good Wood Handbook – The Wood worker’s Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. HarperCollins Publishers, London.
Kribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.
Rendle, B.J. Editor. 1970. World Timbers, Volume Three – Asia & Australia & New Zealand. Published by Ernest Benn Limited, Bouverie House, Fleet Street, London.
Troup, R.S. 1909. Indian Woods and Their Uses. The Indian Forest Memoirs, Economic Products Series, Volume 1, No. 1. Superintendent, Government Printing, Calcutta, India