SafePlants

Dalbergia: A Global Genus of Rosewoods and More

Dalbergia is a large and diverse genus encompassing small to medium-sized trees, shrubs, and lianas, primarily recognized for yielding valuable rosewood timber. This genus belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae, specifically the subfamily Faboideae.

Considerations for Pets

• Some rosewoods within the Dalbergia genus (e.g., Madagascar Rosewood) have been reported to cause allergic reactions, although severe reactions are uncommon.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Dalbergia
• Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)
• Subfamily: Faboideae
• Synonyms:
  • Dalbergia emarginata (synonym for Dalbergia latifolia)

Common Names

• North Indian Rosewood, Sheesham, Sisu, Tahli, Tali, Irugudujava (for Dalbergia sissoo)
• Indian Rosewood (for Dalbergia latifolia)
• Brazilian Rosewood, Bahia Rosewood, Rio Rosewood, Jacarand da Bahia, Jacarand De Brazil, Piano wood, Caviuna, Obuina (for Dalbergia nigra)
• Blink-Platboontjie, Glossy Flat-Bean, Mathibathibane (for Dalbergia nitidula)
• Doringtou (for Dalbergia armata)

Distribution and Habitat

• Rosewoods are found around the world, almost entirely in the tropics.
• Dalbergia sissoo is native to the Himalayan foothills in northern India and is planted in many areas in Asia and elsewhere in the subtropics and tropics.
• Dalbergia odorifera is endemic to Hainan, China.
• Dalbergia latifolia is native to low-elevation tropical regions.
• Dalbergia andapensis is an endangered tree from northeast Madagascar.

Ecological Role

• Dalbergia sissoo is considered invasive in parts of Kenya and Tanzania.
• Dalbergia sissoo coppices and pollards freely and produces abundant root suckers. Its roots nodulate and fix nitrogen.

Morphological Characteristics

• Dalbergia species include small to medium-sized trees, shrubs, and lianas.
• Dalbergia latifolia is predominantly a single-stemmed deciduous tree with a dome-shaped crown.
• Dalbergia sissoo is a deciduous tree with an open spreading crown, typically reaching 15-35 meters in height.
• Dalbergia obovata is a robust shrub or climber with sweet-smelling flowers followed by yellow-green pods.

Traditional Uses

• In traditional Chinese medicine, both Dalbergia sissoo and Dalbergia odorifera wood are known as Jiang Xiang and share identical medicinal properties.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Dalbergia sissoo is susceptible to wilt disease caused by Fusarium solani.

Conservation Status

• Many Dalbergia species are facing a global conservation crisis due to over-harvesting for their valuable rosewood.
• The inclusion of the genus Dalbergia (populations of Madagascar) is under consideration for CITES Appendix II.
• Dalbergia andapensis is threatened by local deforestation.