Porosity: semi-ring porous to diffuse porous
Arrangement: solitary and radial multiples
Vessels: grading from medium to very large, few; reddish-brown colored deposits common
Parenchyma: diffuse-in-aggregates, vasicentric, and banded (marginal)
Rays: narrow width; normal spacing
Lookalikes/Substitutes: Honduran rosewood can be confused with other true (Dalbergia genus) rosewoods, especially Yucatan rosewood (D. tucurensis). The two can be separated on the basis of density (among other criteria)—where the average dried weight for D. stevensonii is significantly heavier than D. tucurensis. Honduran rosewood can also be distinguished from other species if the pores are sufficiently semi-ring porous, but this feature isn’t consistently present.
Amazon rosewood (D. spruceana) is another species with very similar weight and anatomy. However, wood splinters of D. stevensonii will fully burn to white ash, while D. spruceana splinters burn to charcoal.
Notes: Ripple marks present
Modulus of rupture and Modulus of elasticity is too high. Take from here https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr113/ch04.pdf
I’ve bought the Honduran Rosewood lumber to make a frame for the stone picture (Florence mosaic). What kind of finishing you will recommend in order to save natural color of the wood and underline deep structure? What chemicals (makers)?
Thanks
Does this rosewood grow outside Honduras?
Yes. It’s actually most common in Guatemala followed by Belize these days as far as I can tell.
Hello, it has been very hard to find information about sinker wood prices. Such as Dalbergia stevensonii and Swietenia macrophylla. I understand that the natural fresh water curing process greatly increases the value of the wood as well as the length of time it has been submerged. Does anyone have an idea of the increased value?
For example what would be a fair price per board foot for a piece of Honduran rosewood that has been submerged for 200 years?
Thank you
Interested in a learning as to when to plant it?
I have just brought a 120yr old Victorian massive ex window sill back to life, after saving it from being used as fire wood. I chopped the soft ends off sand bench sawn 1/2 in off each side. Would it be teak or rose wood?
This particular species of “rosewood” is the definitive wood used for the manufacture of marimbas and xylophones. It is also used and very expensive string instruments for fingerboards. There is no other wood that produces the quality of sound of this. Not to be confused with genuine mahogany, which also grows in central America. It is an endangered species and as a result nearly impossible to import into the U.S.
I believe you’re referring to Platymiscium dimorphandrum, known in Guatemala as hormigo, which is more commonly used for marimba keys than Honduran rosewood (and indeed isn’t a true rosewood).
Is Honduran rosewood another name for Mahogany?
No. The two are very different woods.
There’s also Honduran Mahogany, which is just the common name for true mahogany.
Thank you for reply. ????????
Jamaican Mahogany is better quality than Honduran, grows more slowly.
The two species are very similar. The main differences may be due to varying growing conditions, where rocky and steeper soils may result in smaller trees but with denser wood and more interesting figures. Unfortunately swietenia mahagoni is commercially exhausted in any case. Neither is Honduran rosewood or even in the Dalbergia genus.
I was not that impressed about Honduran rosewood because it was too light and it does not smell like rosewood.
You might be thinking of Yucatan or Panama Rosewood (Dalbergia tucurensis). Honduran Rosewood is actually heavier than most types of rosewood (such as Brazilian or East Indian). It does have a bit of a different scent to it though.
I’ve found that the scent is actually closest to Brazilian of all the dalbergia woods I worked with while working as a laser operator at a guitar factory. The scent is a little less of a pure sweetness compared to Brazilian, but it is nearly as strong and permeating–at least on a laser cutter.
Honduran rosewood has the scent closest to Brazilian RW. You were not working with Honduran RW.