Dalbergia latifolia (Rose Wood)

'Dalbergia latifolia' commonly called as 'Rose wood', belongs to the family 'Fabaceae'. It is a deciduous tree, attaining a large size in South India and also in Eastern Bengal and Central India. This tree grows extensively and vigorously in the Deccan, Konkan and Gujarat forest. The plant timber is strong, very hard, close-grained and of a purple black colour which gives a valuable furniture wood and employed for cart-wheels, agricultural implements, gun-carriages. It is good for carving and fancy work and used for the handles of knives, kukris and other arms. It has been employed for sleepers. The 200 years old cross section of the wood is exhibited in the Systematic Botany gallery. It was gifted by the Maharaja of Travancore in the year 1880.