Botanical name	Dalbergia melanoxylon
	Family	Leguminosae
	Local name	Mpingo, Pau Preto
	English name	African Blackwood
	Distribution	The tree is widely spread within a triangle from Southern Sudan to Angola and the Transkey in South Africa.
	The tree	It grows as a bush in most places and as a sizeable tree up-to 9 meters (30ft.) height and a diameter of 30 cm (12 in.) and larger, in only few regions. Experts relate this fact to the fauna, more than to the competition from the flora itself !
	The wood	The heartwood is dark brown with black streaks. This colour usually predominates, so that the general effect is nearly black. The narrow sapwood is light yellow and clearly defined. The wood is exceptionally hard and heavy, of a density ab.1.35 t/m3, (79 lb. /cu. ft). The texture is fine and even.
	Seasoning	It dries very slowly and tends to split in drying, especially in log form. The application of wax or paint, on both log ends, is advisable to minimizing splitting.
	Workability	It is extremely hard to cut and process. The use of tungsten carbide tools is required.
	Use	The timber is extremely hard and heavy, therefore of little common use locally. Makers of woodwind musical instruments prefer it to ebony, because of its fine tonal and acoustic features, extreme stability and resistance to saliva. It is also recognised, because of its constant density, as the best timber for ornamentals and turnery of cues, walking sticks, bobbins,butts of sport weapons, cutlery, knives, technical items, pins, spindles, tools and drumsticks.