Dalbergia oliveri aka Burmese Rosewood

Dalbergia oliveri belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae. It is deciduous, which means it sheds its leaves. Its native range runs from Arunachal Pradesh to Peninsular Malaysia. It also grows in Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. People call it Burmese rosewood, Asian rosewood, and tamalan. It comes from the tropics, where it has a dry season. It grows in old forests and forest regrowth. These include mixed forests whose trees shed their leaves. It also grows in evergreen forests and those where some trees shed leaves. Trees grow by streams, up to 3,937 feet [1,200 metres].

The tree grows slowly, with spreading branches and an open crown. Its listed garden height is about 75 feet [23 metres]. Its spread can reach about 66 feet [20 metres]. Forest reports give heights of 49–98 feet [15–30 metres]. The straight trunk can reach 2–3 feet [0.6–0.9 metres] across. It does not keep its leaves all year. The sources give no leaf or bark details. Insects pollinate the flowers. The sources give no bloom season. They give no details of the flowers or fruit.

Young trees can grow in some shade. Older trees grow best in full sun. They need moist soil that drains well. They can grow in sand, loam, or clay. They accept mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline soil. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 10–12. The broad crown and large size need ample space. One cited account says it does not fix nitrogen, despite its pea-family ties. Another source entry briefly labels it a nitrogen-fixer. The two claims conflict.

Wood is the tree’s main recorded use. The heartwood is dark reddish-brown; the sapwood is white. The wood is hard, heavy, and close-grained. Its grain has clear marks, and it takes a polish well. Woodworkers make furniture, cabinets, crafts, and farm-tool handles from it. It supplies Hongmu timber for traditional Chinese furniture, too. Not all trees or woods resist termites, but this timber does. This claim applies to the wood alone. It does not mean the whole tree resists pests.

Heavy cutting for its prized wood has harmed wild tree stocks. Useful Tropical Plants reports an Endangered listing from 2012. The sources list no known food or medicinal uses. They list no known hazards, either. This does not prove it is safe for people or pets. The evidence names no specific diseases or other pest problems.