What is rosewood?

   Rosewood is the name of several kinds of attractive wood of the botanical genus Dalbergia. It is used either as solid wood or as veneer in making ornamental furniture and musical instruments. Its ability to take a high polish and its rich color make rosewood valuable. Its color runs from dark reddish-brown to purplish-brown. Its name comes from the roselike odor of the wood when it is sawed. It is sometimes called blackwood. Rosewood grows in Brazil, Central America, Southern Asia. and Madagascar.
Scientific Classification. Rosewoods are in the pea family, Leguminosae. They are genus Dalbergia.

Rosewood