Scientific Name: Dalbergia retusa

Other Names and Species: Funera, Granadillo, Nambar, Nicaragua Rosewood, Palisandro, Palo Negro

Origin: Pacific regions of Central America, from Panama to southwestern Mexico

Appearance: Cocobolo is somewhat variable in color when freshly sawn, but the heartwood usually ages to a deep rich orange-red with black striping or mottling on exposure to light and air. This oily wood has a fine-to-medium texture with a straight interlocked grain and low luster. It is slightly pungent and fragrant when worked.

Properties: Denser and stronger than Brazilian rosewood, cocobolo is very hard and heavy, with high durability, stability, and resistance to decay and insects.

Workability: This wood has excellent machining characteristics. The natural oils in the wood give it a good polish, but make it unsuitable for gluing. Exposure to the fine dust may produce a rash on the skin resembling a poison ivy rash.

Principal Uses: Besides being used in wood flooring, cocobolo is highly favored in the cutlery trade for utensil handles. It is also commonly found in tool handles, carvings, jewelry boxes, canes, bowling bowls, buttons, musical and scientific instruments, decorative veneers and inlays, and other specialty items.