- For the village of this name, see Rosewood, Florida.
Rosewood is a general term used loosly for a collection of timbers mainly from the genus Dalbergia. Species from other genera, such as Macherium scelroxylon are used as substitues due to decorative similarities in grain but are considered secondary. There are over 150 species of small to medium-size trees of the genus Dalbergia, in the pea family, Fabaceae (Subfamily Faboideae). These trees are native to the tropical regions of Central and South America, Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia. The pre eminent Rosewood appreciated in the western world is D. nigra known as Rio, Bahia, Brazilian Rosewood, Palisander de rio grande or Jacarander. The second most desired timber in the western world is D. latifolia know as Indian Rosewood or Bombay Blackwood. In China the Timber “Huang Hua Li” or Yellow Pear Wood used for some of the finest furniture ever made without glue and nail is D. odifera and D. olveri. The Pear in the title relates to the fragrance of the timber as most Dalbergia species contain perfumed highly pleasing aromatic oils within the grain hence the term Rosewood. Most rosewood have a red brown varigated grain of highly decorative nature, however a good exception is D. frutescens, Tulipwood (not to be confused with Liriodendron tulipifera, the tulipwood of the American Tulip Tree used in cheaper cabinetwork) which is cream coloured with red or salmon stripes and is most often used in crossbanding and oyster veneers. Other notable Dalbergia species are D. retusa or Cocobolo a South American timber with spectacular decorative orange red to black purple grain on freshly cut surfaces which quickly fades in air to more subdued tones and hues. D. cearensis is kingwood and is used much the same as D. frutescens.de:Palisander
