African Blackwood Is Actually a Rosewood

Despite its name and nearly black heartwood, African Blackwood is Dalbergia melanoxylon. It belongs to the same genus as recognized rosewoods—not the ebony genus, Diospyros.

Surprising takeaway: A blank resembling ebony may botanically be a true rosewood. Its narrow pale sapwood surrounding the dark heartwood can provide especially dramatic contrast in small turnings.