Cocobolo

Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa)

Common Names: Cocobolo, Cocobola, Cocabola

Distribution: Central America

Color/Appearance: Cocobolo can be seen in a kaleidoscope of different colors, ranging from yellow, orange, red and shades of brown with streaks of black or purple. Sapwood is typically a very pale yellow.

Janka Hardness: 2,960 lb_f

Density: 5.75 lb/b.f.

Shrinkage: 1

Radial (thickness): 2.7%

Tangential (width): 4.3%,

Volumetric (total): 7.0%,

T/R Ratio (width to depth): 1.6

Allergies/Toxicity: 1 Notoriously allergenic. Reported as a sensitizer; can cause skin, eye and respiratory irritation, as well as nausea, pink-eye and asthma-like symptoms.

Controlled species: CITES: yes (listed on CITES Appendix II under the genus-wide restriction on all Dalbergia species—which also includes finished products made of the wood) IUCN: yes (IUCN Red List as vulnerable due to a population reduction of over 20% in the past three generations

Common Uses: Fine furniture, musical instruments, turnings and other small specialty objects.