Bloodwood

Bloodwood is the common name for several unrelated groups of trees.

• Pterocarpus erinaceus, a deciduous South African tree with large yellow-orange flowers. It yields a thick red juice which is often used in the production of black dyes. Its wood is generally from a light pink to a deep blood-red, and is incredibly dense. This wood is often used by woodworkers for its natural ability to take a polish, and its unmistakable red coloring.

• Rough barked Corymbia eucalypts in Australia. The name bloodwood for these trees stems from the dark red to brown kino that acumulates on wounds on the trunks.

• Haematoxylum campechianum L., a tree from Mexico

• Brosimum Paraense is a tree found in Brazil. Its dense heartwood (specific gravity of 1.15 when dry) is commonly called bloodwood due to its striking red color. The sapwood is easily distinguished by its yellowish-white color. The wood has a fine texture and takes a high polish. The wood is very hard and has a tendency to blunt tools. The wood is used in decorative woodworking and woodturning under the names Satine and Satine Bloodwood. The Nature Conservancy considers this tree secure within its native range.

• In Australia the name refers to either of two distinct groups of eucalypt: the genus Corymbia (formerly Eucalyptus subg. Corymbia) and E. subg. Blakella. These two groups share in common their tessellated bark, but are easily distinguished by thickness of the wall of mature fruits; hence Corymbia is sometimes referred to as Woody-fruited Bloodwood, and E. subg. Blakella as Paper-fruited Bloodwood.

References

• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Brosimum
• Woodworkers Source, Hardwood Information Center: Bloodwood
• Baker, Mark (2004). "Wood for Woodturners". Sussex: Guild of Master Craftsmen Publications. ISBN 1-86108-324-6.