Kayu-Hitam Sulawesi the Wood from Central Celebes

source: indonesiamatters.co

Central Celebes is one of the 33 provinces in Indonesia and since Indonesia has many cultures because of those 33 provinces, each province has it's own culture, flora and fauna. Today, I'm going to present one of Central Celebes's popular flora *because I live in Central Celebes* Called Kayu-Hitam Sulawesi ...

So What is Kayu-Hitam Sulawesi ?
Kayu-Hitam Sulawesi (Ebony) trees are kinds of expensive wood-ebony ethnic ebonian (Ebenaceae). It's scientific name is Diospyros celebica, which is derived from the word 'Celebes' (Sulawesi), and is a plant endemic to the area.

source : cnd-u.kaskus.us/

This tree produces very good quality wood. Dark brown wood color, black, or black with red stripes. In the international trades, Kayu-Hitam Sulawesi is known as Macassar ebony, Coromandel ebony, Streaked ebony or black ebony as well. Other names include wood in Indonesia Itam, toetandu, sora, kayu lotong, and maitong kayu. Heavy black wood with specific gravity than water, so it can not float.

Kayu-Hitam Sulawesi is mainly used for expensive furniture, carvings and sculptures, musical instruments (eg guitar and piano), sticks, and jewelry boxes.

source : 2.bp.blogspot.com

This species is only found on Sulawesi island, primary forests on clay, sandy or rocky soil that have good drainage, with a height of up to 600 m asl. Naturally, Kayu-Hitam Sulawesi is found both in tropical rain forests and in forests laxative.

This timber has been exported to foreign countries since the 18th century. Its main market is Japan. Secondary markets are Europe and the United States.

Sadly, due to the slow population growth and because of the high level of exploitation in the wild, Kayu-Hitam Sulawesi is now threatened to extinction. This timber exports peaked in 1973 with a total of about 26.000 m*cubic*, and then in subsequent years continued to decline due to lack of stock in the wild.
To protect it, now IUCN has set the status as vulnerable and put it in CITES Appendix 2.


Source : wikipedia.org