East Indian satinwood (Chloroxylon swietenia) is also called lemonwood, atlaswood or silkwood. The tree grows in Sri Lanka and in the Near East, it does not reach large diameters and trunk length. The wood is a beautiful, intense yellow color, and up close it exhibits a truly unique shimmering silky luster, reminiscent of the iridescence of expensive silk fabrics, which surely gave it its name. Contrary to popular belief, satinwood has nothing at all to do with citrus trees; the yellow color alone has helped give the wood its misleading name of lemonwood, Citronnier or Zitronenholz. The use of the precious wood was classically for small handicraft wooden objects called gallantry goods, such as glove boxes, brush backs and for woodturning.
