Ebony Tree Block / Senegalia Catechu / Karungali Kattai / Black Cutch – Kher Chhal – Khair Chhal – Khair Bark – Khadira – Khadir

Botanical Name : Senegalia catechu

Common Name  : Black Cutch

Tamil Name        : கருங்காலி கட்டை – Karungali Kattai

Hindi Name        : Katha

Description

Ebony is a usual name for very dense black wood. It is yielded by different species in the genus Diospyros. Sometimes other heavy black woods also called Ebony. Some of the well-known species of Ebony are Diospyros ebenum which is from southern India and Sri Lanka, Diospyros crassiflora which is from western Africa, and Diospyros celebica have native Indonesia and well prized for its luxuriant, multi-colored wood grain.

Ebony wood looks very attractive but somewhat difficult to carve into, it has become one of the most expensive wood types in the world. Depending on what type of ebony wood it is, how black it is, and its uses, the prices for the wood may vary.

Uses

The most common uses of ebony wood are that it has been used for musical instruments.

• It has the ability to create high-quality tones and clear tonality.
• It is suitable for creating mandolins, violas, violins, fingerboard for cellos and guitars, and black piano keys.
• Expensive black chess board pieces have also been made with black ebony wood.
• The bark of this tree is used for charcoal.