Black Palm

Black Palm wood (Borassus flabellifer) is a tropical tree native to South and Southeast Asia, also found in northeastern regions of tropical Africa.

The wood is dense and hard, with a density of  up to 1000 kg/m³, making it durable and resistant to decay.
Black Palm wood features dark fibers embedded in a lighter tan or brown body, with fibers denser toward the outer trunk and sparser toward the center. The core is soft and lacks the dark vascular bundles, which give the outer wood its hardness. Unlike typical hardwoods, it has no growth rings or knots. The wood has a medium to fine texture, though uneven due to the contrast between the dense fibers and lighter cellulose. The grain is straight, adding to its clean, defect-free appearance.
It is difficult to work with both machine and hand tools due to the contrast between the hard fibers and the soft body, which can be brittle, splinter, or pull out.
Despite the difficulty in working with it, this species is highly valued for its durability, wear resistance, and incredible aesthetic qualities. The contrasting and interwoven fibers create exceptionally interesting patterns on the finished wood surface.