Black Palm (or Palmyra Palm)
Bontia / Borassus flabellifer (commonly referred to as Black Palm) · Bamboo / Monocot (Palm)
- Type
- Bamboo / Monocot (Palm)
- Origin
- Tropical regions of Asia and Southeast Asia, widely cultivated across the tropics.
- Hardness
- 2,020 lbf (Very Hard)
- Durability
- Moderately Durable to Durable; highly resistant to insect attack due to high silica content in the vascular bundles, though susceptible to marine borers if submerged.
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Grain Pattern
Extremely distinct speckled and streaked longitudinal fiber pattern, featuring dark black vascular bundles embedded in a lighter golden-brown fibrous background, appearing as dashes and dots running along the grain.
Color & Appearance
Vibrant contrast of deep black or dark brown vascular fiber streaks against a warm golden-tan to reddish-brown background. Exhibits good natural luster when finished, with minimal color change over time apart from normal ambering of clear topcoats.
Hardness (Janka)
2,020 lbf (Very Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Moderately Durable to Durable; highly resistant to insect attack due to high silica content in the vascular bundles, though susceptible to marine borers if submerged.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $12.00 to $20.00+ per board foot (considered an exotic specialty lumber).
- Wood Age Estimate
- Modern finished piece (constructed within the last 1 to 5 years), though the palm timber itself comes from a mature palm tree.
- Sustainability Status
- Not listed on CITES appendices or the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Readily available from managed plantations and sustainably harvested palm sources.
Common Uses
Turned objects, fine furniture accents, flooring, cue sticks, knife handles, small decorative woodworking projects.
Geographic Origin
Tropical regions of Asia and Southeast Asia, widely cultivated across the tropics.
Workability
Very challenging to work due to the extreme difference in density between the soft cellular background tissue and the extremely hard, silica-rich black vascular bundles. Prone to splintering and tears out easily; dulls cutting edges rapidly. High-speed steel or carbide tooling is essential. Glues and finishes well once properly prepared.
Finish Recommendations
Polyurethane, lacquer, or penetrating oils work well. Requires careful sanding with progressively finer grits to smooth out the varying hardnesses of the fibers without dishing out the softer background matrix.
Notable Features
Not technically a true hardwood, but a monocot. Extremely high silica content causes rapid tool dulling. The unique speckled end-grain and streaked face-grain are unmistakable.
