SCIENTIFIC NAME
Diospyros dendo. Derivation: The genus name is Greek meaning "of the God Zeus or Jupiter" and "grain" alluding to the edible fruit. The specific epithet is probably a local name.

FAMILY
Ebenaceae, the ebony family.

OTHER NAMES
Nigerian ebony, black ebony, calabar, Lagos billetwood.

DISTRIBUTION
In Africa from Ghana to the Congo (formerly Zaire), especially in coastal areas.

THE TREE
Gabon ebony grows to a height of 50 to 60 feet with an average bole diameter of 2 feet. The evergreen leaves vary from 4 to 10 inches in length and 3 to 5 inches in width and are alternate and elliptic with acuminate tips. The fruit is globe-shaped, 1 to 2.5 inches in diameter and contains several flat seeds. When ripe it is orange in color.

THE TIMBER
The sapwood of Gabon ebony is light yellowish-white, and the heartwood is uniform jet black, sometimes streaked with greenish-black markings. The odor and taste are not distinct. It has a metallic luster, and the timbers are very fine textured. The grain is usually quite indistinct. Average reported specific gravity is 0.82 (ovendry weight/green volume), equivalent to an air-dried weight of 66 pd. Gabon ebony is strong and hard with good resistance to compression and bending. The blackest grades tend to be the most brittle.

SEASONING
In small dimensions, Gabon ebony kiln dries well with little tendency to split or distort. Average reported shrinkage values (green to ovendry) are 5.5% radial and 6.5% tangential. After seasoning, the wood is dimensionally stable.

DURABILITY
Some damage from pin hole borers is occasionally found in Gabon ebony timbers. Because it is very resistant to decay and termites, it is not given a preservative treatment.

WORKABILITY
The abrasive effect on cutting edges of tools caused by machining Gabon ebony is well known. Very sharp tools are required in all processes. It turns well and can be carved with good results. Worked edges remain sharp, and the timber will finish to a high polish. Because the wood is hard, using nails or screws requires pre-boring.

USES
Gabon ebony is used for turnery, carving, inlaid work, novelties, brush backs, handles, piano keys, musical instruments and billiard cues. The light-colored sapwood is sometimes used for less expensive tool handles.

SUPPLIES
Demand is small but supplies are available commercially at a very high cost. It is usually produced in the form of billets or short logs of 4 to 8 feet.

Information from A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Second Edition, James H. Flynn, Jr. and Charles D. Holder, Editors. Forest Products Society, Madison, Wisconsin, 2001.

Photographs from MDArtworks