"Dalbergia melanoxylon(African blackwood,grenadilla, ormpingo) is aflowering plantin the familyFabaceae, native to seasonally dry regions ofAfricafromSenegaleast toEritreaand south to the north-eastern parts ofSouth Africa. The tree is an importanttimberspecies in its native areas; it is usedin the manufacture of musical instruments[2]and fine furniture. Populations and genomic resources for genetic biodiversity maintenance in parts of its native range are threatened byoverharvestingdue to poor or absent conservation planning and by the species' low germination rates.[2]
It is a small tree, reaching 4–15 m tall, with grey bark and spiny shoots. The leaves are deciduous in the dry season, alternate, 6–22 cm long, pinnately compound, with 6-9 alternately arranged leaflets. The flowers are white and produced in dense clusters. The fruit is a pod 3–7 cm long, containing one to two seeds."