The genus Diospyros includes plants of commercial importance, either for their edible fruit or for their timber. The timber species are divided in trade into two groups: pure black ebony, notably from D. ebenum, and striped ebony or calamander wood, from D. celebica, D. mun and others. Most species in the genus produce little to none of the black ebony-type wood. In perfumery the name also appears as an ebony wood accord, a fragrance formula of the woody family.
Species
Species of ebony include Diospyros ebenum, called Ceylon ebony, which is native to southern India and Sri Lanka. D. crassiflora, called Gabon ebony, is native to western Africa. D. celebica, called Sulawesi ebony, is native to Indonesia. Some species in the genus yield an ebony with similar physical properties, but striped rather than the even black of D. ebenum.
The Wood Itself
Ceylon ebony is a middle-height evergreen tree that grows very slowly, up to 20 to 25 metres tall. Its fruit is approximately 2 centimetres in diameter and resembles a small persimmon. The sapwood of Diospyros ebenum is light yellowish gray, with a glossy-black core that occasionally contains light fibres. The wood also has a metallic gloss and a fine, smooth texture. It is twice as hard as oak, easy to polish, and resistant to water and termites. It is hard to work both by hand and by machine, and its short grain is subject to cracking. Ebony is finely textured and has a mirror finish when polished, making it valuable as an ornamental wood. Truly black ebony wood has no noticeable grain.
Uses
Today the wood is commonly used in decorative wooden inlays, handmade artwork, and for parts of musical instruments that tend to receive the most wear: piano keys, fingerboards, pegs, tailpieces, and nuts. It is also commonly used in turnery to make knife handles, brush holders, and chopsticks. Traditionally, black chess pieces were made from ebony, with boxwood or ivory being used for the white pieces. It is also used to treat eye infections in Unani medicine.
Conservation
The high demand for Ceylon ebony wood has threatened the species with extinction. As of 1998, the IUCN had insufficient data about the species. Both India and Sri Lanka have laws prohibiting international trade of the wood. In Sri Lanka, it is illegal to harvest and sell ebony wood. Many ebony species are listed in the CITES appendix, which requires a permit for their international trade. Ebony trees are generally small and grow very slowly. High demand and low supply have led to severe global overharvesting of ebony. Sustainable modern alternatives to ebony have been developed, such as ebonising, using black plastic, or other black woods.
A Related Species
The essential oil of Diospyros wallichii leaves is characterised by high proportions of β-eudesmol (28.5%), caryophyllene oxide (9.5%) and β-caryophyllene (7.2%).
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Related: Alder · Alpha Humulene · Amaranth · Amberever · Amburana Bark · Antillone · Apple Tree
