Different Types Of Rosewood trees are considered to be some of the most beautiful and valuable trees in the world. They are also known to be very rare and expensive. What makes them so special?
Rosewoods are native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and South America. The species that grows in Madagascar is called rosewood due to its reddish color. These trees are extremely slow-growing, taking decades to reach maturity.
They are highly sought after because they are incredibly durable and resistant to insects and rot. In addition, their wood has a high density and is very strong. This makes rosewood ideal for furniture, musical instruments, and other uses.
However, because of this value, they are perceived as having, they are being cut down at an advanced rate that is pushing the rosewood tree towards extinction.
An Endangered Species
Rosewood is an extremely valuable wood that is often used in furniture manufacturing. It is also very rare and hard to get. It is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The UNODC report shows that 35% of seized wildlife was rosewood. This is more than any other type of seizure. Seizures of illegal rosewood were worth $6 billion in 2014 alone. That’s nearly as much as the total value of all seized wildlife.
The government of Senegal reports that the world’s remaining rosewoods are under severe threat.
What Do Rosewood Trees Look Like?
Foliage
This is a tree that grows in the mountains and has a leaf arrangement of three or seven leaflets. The leaves are oval-shaped and have veins running down them. The plant has a green top and a pale green underside. There is no fall color change.
Flower
A Rosewood’s flowers bloom in the springtime. Yellow flowers are more common than white ones, but they all smell nice and are great at attracting pollinators.
Fruit
Fruits are round pods or pods-like, and grow up to four inches long. They are covered by hard skin and do not attract wildlife. They’re not showy, but they are not a litter problem either.
Trunk and Branches
Most rosewood trees are evergreen, and they are made up of red-colored wood. They grow up to heights between 30 and 100 feet tall, and they all have a straight trunk.This wood is very hard and dense.
15 Different Types Of Rosewood
1. Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) is an evergreen tree found in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. It grows up to 40 meters high and has dark green foliage. It is known as Bahia Rosewood or Jacaranda de Bahia.
These trees are able to grow in a wide variety of climates. They are able to fix nitrogen in their roots, allowing them to survive in nutrient-poor soil. Their flowers are pollinated by bees during the winter months. They produce fruit from January to September.
Illegal logging threatens to destroy the Brazilian rosewood forests. The Brazilian rosewood trees are found in fragments, and there is concern about the survival of these trees because of rodent predation.
2. Honduran Rosewood
Honduran rosewood is a very rare type of tree that grows in Central America. It can reach heights of up to 100 feet, and it is a light brown color with dark brown stripes running along the trunk. The tree produces fruits during July.
However, many of them get eaten by caterpillars, thus limiting the amount of natural regeneration.
In March 2013, the species became endangered because of illegal logging. There were fewer than 100,000 individuals left. The population had declined by about 50 percent over the past decade.
3. Madagascar Rosewood
This is one of the most important types of rosewood. It is native to Madagascar, and it is a small tree that can grow up to 15 feet tall.
It has a narrow crown and thin branches. Its bark is grayish brown, but its wood is a beautiful red/purple color (which is why these trees are highly sought after). The leaves are oval-shaped and have five lobes on each side.
The flowers are yellow and fragrant. The fruits are round and contain seeds.
4. (East) Indian Rosewood
This is another type of rosewood that is native to India and Indonesia. It grows up to 30 feet tall and has a slender trunk. It is a medium-sized tree that does not need much space to grow. It is a fast-growing tree that can live up to 200 years.
It has a long life cycle. It takes around 20 years before the tree starts producing new growth. The tree is usually planted in areas where it receives lots of sunlight.
5. Burmese Rosewood
This is a large tree that grows up to 60 feet tall. It is native to Myanmar and is a deciduous tree that sheds its leaves every year. It is a fast-growing tree that can take less than 10 years to mature. It has a thick trunk and a broad canopy.
6. Amazon Rosewood
This is an evergreen tree that grows up to 40 feet tall. It is found in Brazil and Paraguay. It is a slow-growing tree that takes more than 25 years to reach maturity.
It has a dense canopy and a short trunk. The tree is used for timber and furniture making.
7. Malaysian Rosewood
This is native to Malaysia and Indonesia. It is a deciduous or semi-evergreen tree that grows up to 70 feet tall. It is a slow-growing tree that takes more than 35 years to reach maturity.
8. Nicaraguan Rosewood
It is native to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It is a deciduous tree that grows up to 60 feet tall. It has straight trunks and a wide canopy. It is a fast grower. It takes between 12 and 15 years to reach full maturity.
9. Guatemalan Rosewood
This is a deciduous and semi-deciduous tree that grows up to 80 feet tall. It is from Guatemala. It is a slow grower that requires at least 20 years to reach maturity.
Its wood has a red-tinge to its light brown color, and it has deep brown lines running through it.
10. Mexican Rosewood
Mexican Rosewood is an evergreen tree. It grows up to 50 feet tall and has a wide canopy. It has a fast-growing rate and needs only 7 years to reach maturity. The color of its trunk is dark green with a light pink hue on the inside.
Because of this, some people actually call the wood of this tree ‘rainbow wood’.
11. Chinese Rosewood
This is the largest variety of rosewood. It grows up to 100 feet tall and is native to China. It is a slow-growing tree that takes approximately 45 years to reach maturity.
12. Camotillo Rosewood
This is also known as the “Coral Tree”. It is native to Australia and New Zealand. It is a decidable tree that grows up to 50 feet. It is a fast grower that takes about 8 years to reach maturity. Its flowers have a bright red color.
13. Laotian Rosewood
This tree is native to Laos and Thailand. It is a deciduous tree that grows up 90 feet tall. The Laotian Rosewood is an evergreen tree and takes about 15 years to reach maturity.
14. Bahia Rosewood
This is one of the most popular types of rosewood. It is native to Bahia, Brazil, and it is a deciduous tree that grows to 75 feet tall.
15. Siam Rosewood
Siam Rosewood is from Thailand and Cambodia. It is a deciduous tree that grows up 30 feet tall. It is slow-growing, but it reaches maturity within 6 years (because of its shorter height).
To Sum Up
A rosewood tree is a type of evergreen tree. It is native to tropical forests in Central and South America. There are about 30 species of rosewood trees. Some of the best known are found in Madagascar.
A rosewood tree is a slow-growing tree, and many of them take decades to grow to full size.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Rosewood Tree’s Status As An Endangered Species?
Rosewood is now protected around the world. At a summit of international wildlife trade in South Africa, the Convention on International trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) moved to protect the world’s most trafficked wild product.
At CITES meetings, additional rosewood species have been added to the list for protection, causing a boom in Chinese markets.
Where Can You Find Rosewood Trees?
You can find rosewood trees all over the world! You can find them in the Amazon rainforest, the jungles of Southeast Asia, the mountains of Nepal, and even in your own backyard (though this is a very rare occurrence).
How Many Varieties Of Rosewood Trees Exist?
There are currently more than 30 different species of rosewood trees! Each of these species has unique characteristics that make each tree distinct, particularly in terms of the color of the wood.
