Family: Fabaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Dalbergia melanoxylon, commonly known as African blackwood or African ebony, is a slow-growing hardwood tree native to seasonally dry regions of eastern and southern Africa. It typically grows as a small to medium-sized tree with a dense, rounded crown and finely divided leaves. The species is best known for its extremely hard, dark purple-brown to nearly black heartwood, which is among the most valuable timbers in the world. African blackwood is highly prized for carving, fine furniture, and especially for crafting musical instruments such as clarinets, oboes, and bagpipes due to its strength, stability, and rich tonal qualities. Its attractive wood and drought tolerance can make it appealing for specialty forestry or ornamental planting in warm climates.

Risks & Threats
Although Dalbergia melanoxylon is not currently known to be naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, it possesses traits that raise concern for tropical environments. As a leguminous tree, it can fix nitrogen, potentially altering soil chemistry and nutrient cycling in native ecosystems that evolved in low-nutrient conditions. In suitable climates, it may establish from seed and persist in dry or disturbed habitats. Tropical island ecosystems such as Hawaiʻi’s are especially vulnerable to introduced trees that can compete with native plants, modify soils, and spread beyond cultivation. Given these concerns, and the history of woody legumes becoming invasive in Hawaiʻi, caution is warranted. Plant Pono recommends choosing a low-risk or native alternative to help protect Hawaiʻi’s unique and fragile natural landscapes.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad ecological tolerance and elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized in India
  
• A weed in India and Western Australia, where it was eradicated
  
• Other Dalbergia species have become invasive
  
• Twigs with terminal thorns
  
• Wood may cause allergic reaction or dermatitis
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Nitrogen fixing
  
• Reproduces by seeds, root suckers and coppicing
  
• Seeds dispersed by wind and intentionally by people
  
• Heavy annual seed production (densities unknown)
  
• Able to coppice and resprout after cutting
  
• Mature trees tolerate fire

Low Risk Traits:

• Leaves and pods are palatable. Provides fodder for livestock
  
• Non-toxic to animals
  
• Valuable timber tree
  
• Light-demanding (may be Shade-intolerant)
  
• Not gregarious. Not known to form dense stands in native range
  
• Self-incompatible
  
• Slow growth and long time to reproductive maturity
  
• Seeds rapidly lose viability and may not form a persistent seed bank