Diospyros crassiflora
Specifications
Family
Ebenaceae
Species
Diospyros crassiflora Hiern
Benin ebony
Description
It has a yellowish or greyish sapwood, sometimes with reddish hues, a black heartwood with metallic highlights, a fine and compact texture, variable grain, and a volumetric weight ranging from 0.75 to 1.10. Due to its extreme hardness, it is difficult to work with.
Plant morphology
It is a dioecious tree that reaches 25 m in height, with a maximum diameter of 120 cm. The bark is finely fissured and grayish-black to black in color. It has alternate, lanceolate-elliptical leaves. The male flower has numerous stamens and pinkish-red petals and is larger than the female flower. The fruit is sparsely hairy.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
West Africa: Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo.
Habitat and ecology
It lives primarily in lowland rainforests with evergreen species, but can also grow in coastal areas of semi-deciduous forest. It can form small evergreen patches within larger semi-deciduous vegetation of Sterculiaceae or Ulmaceae.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is used for small luxury furniture, interior design, turning, billiard cues, fantasy objects, cabinet making.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
The main exporter is Cameroon, which permits the annual harvest of 1,200 trees. The conservation of this species is threatened by excessive harvesting for timber, but the main long-term threat is the conversion of forest areas to agriculture, including livestock farming.
Conservation measures
Since 2016, the "Sustainable Ebony Project" has been active in the Congo Basin, aiming to identify sustainable ebony propagation and production practices. https://www.cbi.ucla.edu/projects/sustainable-ebony-project/
IUCN Red List
IUCN
VU - Vulnerable
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
2018
1975
2050
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
2018
Appendix II - Only populations from Madagascar
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Not obvious
Texture
Fine
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
955
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
83
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
112
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
158
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
16890
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Very durable
Insect resistance
Resistant
Miscellaneous
Given the rarity of the species and the threats it is preferable to avoid its use.