Sonokeling rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) is mainly growing in Indonesia, Java. It is biologically the same as East Indian rosewood.
Since this rosewood has always been rare and highly prized, plantations on Java were established by the Dutch as early as the 18th century using saplings from their colony in the East Indies. Due to the different growing conditions, its color differs from East Indian rosewood, sonokeling has a much greater variety of colors. The hard heartwood is lighter in colour, brown with blackish streaks to sometimes greenish dark brown or light violet colour shades, in every case very decorative. When freshcut the odor is subtly acidic-aromatic .
This attractive hard and heavy timber is widely used for cabinet making, luxury interior, high end furniture and musical instruments. Sonokeling rosewood works well with machine or hand tools and finishes smoothly. As the export of logs or sawn timber is not permitted, this rare wood is only exported in processed form, e.g. as profiled scantlings.
