Macacauba (Platymiscium yucatanum) is also known as Coyote, Cristobal, Curatinga Rosewood, Macawood, Para Rosewood, Pink Maca, Trebol, the old collective term Granadillo, used for dozens of unrelated woods, is one of the most confusing common names. The trees, which grow up to 40 meters tall and are very isolated in lowland forests, produce a very beautiful fine-pored, reddish-brown, extremely hard and dense wood, which is interspersed with fine black stripes. A wide range of variation also allows very light red to quite dark brown logs to appear. The wood is quite similar to various Dalbergia rosewood species such as Honduran, Amazon rosewood or cocobolo, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with the grenadilla (African Blackwood) belonging to the rosewood family. Its great hardness combined with very good resonance properties make it an excellent tonewood. In South America it is considered the best tonewood for marimba and xylophones, also for guitars, and is often referred to as "La Madera Que Canta" (The wood that sings). Granadillo is said to have a ringing, bright tap tone and is becoming increasingly popular with American instrument makers.
