Zebra Wood (Dalbergia melanoxylon)

Family Papilionoideae

A straggling tree which grows up to 5m in height. Found in the north eastern regions.

Extract from Palgraves: “The sapwood is yellow to white surrounding a very hard, beautiful, purplish heartwood which becomes black on exposure’ it is close-grained and very heavy, pleasantly scented and, if pieces are of a reasonable size, of considerable commercial value. However trees are usually small, the stems twisted and contorted and very often the wood is defective; it is suitable only therefore for trinket boxes, chessmen and small ornaments and particularly for woodwind instruments. Africans use the wood to make arrow tips and wooden hammers for beating bark cloth. A preparation to relieve toothache is made from the roots.”