Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra)

Description

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Brazilian rosewood fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Brazilian rosewood description

One of the most highly prized woods in Brazil, the timber of the Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) has been harvested since colonial times to construct high quality furniture and musical instruments ⁽¹⁾. The timber of this species is particularly precious as it is not only extremely strong, but also highly resistant to insect attack ⁽⁴⁾. 

The branches of the Brazilian rosewood are dark and roundish and grow in a distinct zig-zag pattern. The leaves bear 12 to 18 alternate leaflets, and the flowers are pale, violet-scented, and pea-like in shape ⁽²⁾.

Also known as

Bahia rosewood, Rio rosewood.

Spanish

Jacarandá De Brasil.

Size

Height: up to 25 m ⁽²⁾

Brazilian rosewood biology

Very little is known about the ecology and reproduction of the Brazilian rosewood, but it is known to have a short flowering period between November and December and a long fruiting period between January and September. The flowers are pollinated by bees and the seeds are dispersed by the wind ⁽⁶⁾. Germination is determined by temperature, with the optimal temperature being 30.5 degrees Celsius, although the seeds can germinate at any temperature between 10 degrees Celsius and 45 degrees Celsius ⁽⁷⁾.

Brazilian rosewood range

Occurring only in the Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil, populations of the Brazilian rosewood are scattered between southern Bahia and Minas Gerais, with the highest concentrations found on rich soils between southern Bahia and northern Espírito Santo ^{(1) (2) (5)}. 

Brazilian rosewood habitat

The Brazilian rosewood grows in wet (hygrophilous) forests on rich soils, especially where the soil consists of clay and loam (a mix of sand, silt and clay) with good drainage. It grows across a range of climatic conditions that includes tropical lowlands and sub-montane rainforests ^{(1) (2) (5)}. 

The Brazilian rosewood grows as a medium-sized tree in semi-deciduous tropical forests in Minas Gerais, but tends to be larger elsewhere. It is now rare in undisturbed forests, and is more common as a small tree in secondary growth and pastures, as it regenerates well from stumps. The Brazilian rosewood is also often cultivated in experiment stations, parks and urban areas, either as an ornamental tree or for its economic value ⁽⁵⁾.

Brazilian rosewood status

The Brazilian rosewood is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾ and listed on Appendix I of CITES ⁽³⁾.

Brazilian rosewood threats

The Brazilian rosewood has been harvested since colonial times to make high-quality furniture and musical instruments. It is now regarded as one of the most valuable trees in Brazil, for its timber and also for its oils and resins ^{(1) (2)}. 

However, past rates of deforestation have been extremely high, and trees with thick trunks are now rare as most have been logged ^{(1) (2)}. Populations are also now highly fragmented across its extensive range. Regeneration rates among existing populations are also poor, possibly because the seeds of the few remaining fruiting trees are heavily predated by rodents ⁽¹⁾. Overexploitation has also reduced the Brazilian rosewood’s genetic diversity, with populations in areas of high human disturbance having low genetic variation ^{(6) (8)}.

Brazilian rosewood conservation

As a result of its severely depleted and declining populations, in 1992 the Brazilian rosewood became the first tree species to be listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), so prohibiting any international trade in this species’ products ^{(3) (7)}. 

Further recommended conservation measures for the Brazilian rosewood include greater protection for forest remnants with high genetic diversity, such as those in northeast Minas Gerais state ⁽⁸⁾. At present there is some small-scale cultivation of this species, but plantations may also need to be established if it is to be successfully conserved ⁽²⁾.

Find out more

To find out more about the conservation of threatened tree species, see:

• Global Trees Campaign:
  http://www.globaltrees.org/
• Forest Stewardship Council:
  http://www.fsc.org/

For more information on conservation projects in the Atlantic forest, see:

• Conservation International – Atlantic forest:
  http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/atlantic_forest/Pages/default.aspx
• WWF – Atlantic forest:
  http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/safeguarding_the_natural_world/forests/forest_work/atlantic_forest/

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Glossary

Alternate leaves

Leaves that are located at alternating points along a stem, rather than in opposite pairs.

Atlantic Forest

A highly biodiverse region found along the east coast of South America, comprising several different vegetation types, including high-altitude grassland, and lowland and montane forest. The coastal Atlantic forest is a narrow strip of about 50 to 100 kilometres along the coast, which covers about 20 percent of the Atlantic Forest region.

Deciduous forest

Forest consisting mainly of deciduous trees, which shed their leaves at the end of the growing season.

Genetic diversity (genetic variation)

The variety of genes within a particular species, population or breed causing differences in morphology, physiology and behaviour

Germination

The beginning of growth, usually following a period of dormancy and in response to favourable conditions. For example, the sprouting of a seedling from a seed.

Pollinated

To transfer pollen grains from the stamen (male part of a flower) to the stigma (female part of a flower) of a flowering plant. This usually leads to fertilisation, the development of seeds and, eventually, a new plant.

Secondary growth

Vegetation that has re-grown after a major disturbance, such as fire or clearance.

Submontane forest

Forest occurring at elevations just below those of montane forest.

References

1. IUCN Red List (August, 2009)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org/
2. Hildyard, A. (2001) Endangered Wildlife and Plants of the World. Marshall Cavendish Corporation, Tarrytown, New York.
3. CITES (August, 2009)
   http://www.cites.org/
4. Forest Products Laboratory, US Department of Agriculture (2007) The Encyclopedia of Wood. Skyhorse Publishing Inc., New York.
5. de Carvalho, A.M. (1997) A synopsis of the genus Dalbergia (Fabaceae: Dalbergieae) in Brazil. Brittonia, 49(1): 87-109
6. Ribeiro, A.R., Ramos, A.C.S., Lemos-Filho, J.P. and Lovato, M.B. (2005) Genetic variation in remnant populations of Dalbergia nigra (Papilionoideae), an endangered tree from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Annals of Botany, 95: 1171–1177.
7. Ferraz-Grande, F.G.A. and Takaki, M. (2001) Temperature dependent seed germination of Dalbergia nigra Allem. (Leguminosae). Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 44: 401-404.
8. Ribeiro, A.R., Lemos-Filho, J.P., Ramos, A.C.S. and Lovato, M.B. (2011) Phylogeography of the endangered rosewood Dalbergia nigra (Fabaceae): insights into the evolutionary history and conservation of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Heredity, 106: 46-57.