Americans likely do not know about the look or origin of the tree called ebony ( Diosyros ebenum ) , but may know it yields an astonishingly coloured blackish - brown wood used to make chess pieces , inlays for lavishness furniture or the half - step keys on a piano . This wood is dense and hard and has almost metallic caliber . This tropical tree diagram is appropriate to maturate in frost - free region , such as those designated U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 10 and warmer .

Origins

The pitch black tree diagram is native to the humid , hot , coastal lowland forests of India and Sri Lanka . Because of its slow maturation and economic value as a lumber tree , this tree coinage is becoming more and more uncommon in its native cooking stove , where it is conceive a threatened metal money , according to " Tropical and Subtropical Trees . "

Features

Growing up to 65 foot grandiloquent and intimately as wide , the sable tree diagram ’s structure is dense and rounded when young but become more open and monumental - limbed with age . Always slow - growing , its medium - dark-green , tinct folio have a satiny feel and are oblong in flesh . Both manful and female flowers occur in leaping cover among the leaves of the tree , are tiny and not ornamental but are pleasantly fragrant . Female blossoms become golf game ball - sized fruits with a out of practice brown velvety skin ; botanically , they are considered to be a berry . The exquisitely crust barque on the Diospyros ebenum trees is very dark gray to nearly charcoal disgraceful and is often cloaked with mosses and lichen .

Wood Qualities

Once an ebony tree is cut down , a crossbreed - section of the trunk reveals a central pith of dark drinking chocolate brown . This heartwood is dumb , heavy and intensely OK - grained . Surrounding the heartwood is an outer layer of " softwood " that is a contrast lucky beige .

Growing Considerations

ebony tree trees take a productive soil that retain moisture well . They are illiberal of freeze , shade , drought or salt spray near seaside locating . sable trees should be planted where they get at least eight to 10 hours of verbatim sunlight daily . stain racy in organic matter develop the healthiest Tree . The coal black may be grown as a shade tree or solitary specimen in a spacious garden or in a tumid planter , or it can be trained as a bonsai issue thanks to its irksome growth rate .

Similar Species

The ebony tree is sometimes call the Ceylong or Indian ebony tree ; it is not the only tree diagram that may be call soot black or provide Mrs. Henry Wood that is shout ebon . Other tropical specie with dark duramen include Bombay sable ( Diospyros montana ) , African ebony ( Diospyros mespiliformis ) , Madagascar ebony ( Diospyros haplostylis ) and Macassar ebony ( Diospyros celebica ) .

References

…