What Is Moluccan Ebony Wood?

Many piano keys are made from ebony.

Moluccan ebony wood is used for a number of products such as canes, jewelry boxes and musical instruments. However, it is rather pricey, so it is typically used in moderation by most craftsmen.

Maluku Islands

Moluccan ebony grows in the Maluku Islands. The Maluku Islands are part of the Indonesian archipelago. The Maluku islands are wet and volcanic--a perfect environment for vegetation to grow.

Moluccan Ironwood

Moluccan ebony wood is also known as Moluccan Ironwood. This wood has been heavily harvested in Indonesia, but it is still widely available.

Characteristics

Moluccan ebony is a dark, red wood that is streaked with black veins. It is an extremely hard wood, and can be difficult to work with because of its density.

Over-harvesting

Unfortunately, the over-harvesting of most ebony woods, including Moluccan ebony, has made the purchase of such woods expensive and the wood quality poor.

Vulnerable Species

Moluccan ebony wood mostly grows in the lower levels of the rainforest. Because of its abundant commercial use, the World Conservation Monitoring Center has listed this tree as a vulnerable threatened species of tree.

Moluccan Ironwood;
http://www.udkayuku.com/index.php?productID=16

References

• Economic Plants of the Tropics
• Intsia Bujiga
• Maluku Islands

Resources

• Moluccan Ebony; Indonesia