Botanical name	Berchimia zeyheri.
	Family	Rhamnaceae
	Local name	Rooi ivoor
	English name	Red or Pink Ivory
	Distribution	Native of Southern Africa, it is found from Zimbabwe in the North to the Eastern Cape in the South.
	The tree	Evergreen, up-to 15 meters tall with a dense and round crown. It grows in open woodland, rocky hillsides and along drainage lines. It is drought resistant and can take light frost. It is a protected tree in South Africa. Special permits are granted for harvesting.
	The wood	The heartwood ranges from light pink to a dark red colour, the sapwood is yellowish. The heart is very hard and heavy with a density of 1.1 t / m3, when it is air-dried.
	Seasoning	It dries slowly and doesn’t slit easily due to its oily content.
	Workability	It works well on the lathe and with the chisel.
	Use	Its attractive colouring makes it ideal for carving, turning of wooden bowls, walking sticks, cues and even putters. It is also used for musical instruments, for its decorative value, in drums, woodwinds and ornamentals.