Diospyros crassiflora
| Diospyros crassiflora | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ebenaceae |
| Genus: | Diospyros |
| Species: | D. crassiflora
|
| Binomial name | |
| Diospyros crassiflora Hiern
| |
Diospyros crassiflora,commonly known asGabon ebony,African ebony,West African ebony,andBenin ebonyis a species of lowland-rainforest tree in the familyEbenaceaethat is endemic to WesternAfrica.It is named after the West African state ofGabon,though it also occurs inCameroon,Central African Republic,Republic of the Congo,Democratic Republic of the Congo,Equatorial GuineaandNigeria.[2]
The wood this particular tree produces is believed to be the blackest of all timber-producingDiospyrosspecies, and the heartwood from this tree has been used since ancient Egyptian times.[3]It is hard and durable with very fine pores, and it polishes to a high luster. It is used to make sculptures, carvings,walking sticks,pool cues, doorknobs, tool and knife handles, gun grips, the black keys on pianos, organ-stops, guitar fingerboards and bridges, and chess pieces. It is the wood of choice for the fingerboards, tailpieces, and tuning pegs used on all orchestral stringed instruments, including violins, violas, cellos, and double basses.
The species was classified asendangeredon theInternational Union for Conservation of Naturered list in 1998.[1]A second IUCN assessment in 2018 re-listed the species asvulnerable.The new assessment was based on a more detailed dataset of occurrence and abundance. It stated that "the most severe long-term threat is the conversion of forest to agriculture and grazing, as well as logging of other commercial timber species."[1]
References[edit]
- ^abcSchatz, G.E.; Lowry II, P.P.; Onana, J.-M.; Stévart, T.; Deblauwe, V. (2019)."Diospyros crassiflora".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2019:e.T33048A2831968.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T33048A2831968.en.Retrieved18 November2021.
- ^Deblauwe, Vincent (2021-02-01)."Life history, uses, trade and management of Diospyros crassiflora Hiern, the ebony tree of the Central African forests: A state of knowledge".Forest Ecology and Management.481:118655.doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118655.ISSN0378-1127.
- ^Nesbitt, M.The Cultural History of Plants.Routledge, New York-London, 2005. pg. 321.
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