Cocus wood (Brya ebenus) comes from a small tree of the leguminous family, mostly native to Jamaica and occasionally to other Caribbean islands. Despite the similarity of its name, cocus wood has nothing to do with the coconut palm. Because of its density and hardness it is also referred to as false green ebony or Jamaican ebony. The sapwood is cream-coloured and clearly distinguished from the olive green to dark brown-grey heartwood. Cocus wood often has a very attractive typical interlocked grain, is extremely hard, dense and fine-pored and takes on a nice polish. In the 18th and 19th centuries this wood was so much sought for flutes that the great demand for this rare and very slow-growing wood has made it a great rarity. Cocus wood is mainly used for finest woodturning and is still a preferred wood for wind instruments.
