Dalbergia stevensonii aka Honduran Rosewood

Dalbergia stevensonii is also called Honduras rosewood. It belongs to Fabaceae, the pea family. Its native range runs from southeastern Mexico to Guatemala. This range includes Belize. Kew places it in the tropics, where seasons can be dry. Other accounts place it in rainforests, often near rivers. It also grows between rivers and in drier places. People harvest this timber tree from wild forests. Its common name does not cover its full native range.

This evergreen tree grows slowly and needs room as it grows. Reference entries list its height and spread as 66 feet [20 metres]. Forest accounts give heights of 49–98 feet [15–30 metres]. Thus, the forest range exceeds the listed size. The trunk can reach about 3 feet [0.9 metres] across. It has deep grooves and often forks above the ground. This fork may start at 20–26 feet [6–8 metres]. The sources say little about its leaves or bark. Insects pollinate its flowers, but no source gives a bloom season.

Plants For A Future lists moist soil that drains well. It says the tree can grow in sand, loam and clay. The listed soil pH runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. That account says the tree does not grow in shade. It also assigns USDA zones 10–12. More detailed advice calls for rich loam and full sun. That advice covers the genus, not just this species. Bacteria live in root nodules, which are small root growths. They help the tree get nitrogen from the air. Plants nearby may gain some of that nitrogen too.

Wood is the tree's main use in these accounts. Makers use it for furniture, cabinets and musical instruments. They also make pool tables, canes, trays and small cases. The heartwood, or inner wood, ranges from pink-brown to purple. It has dark bands that do not follow growth rings. Pale sapwood forms a clear edge around this dark core. Newly cut sapwood turns yellow as it ages. Fresh heartwood smells of roses, but the scent fades with time. The grain ranges from straight to slightly interlocked. Makers also use this timber for traditional Chinese Hongmu furniture.

The sources list no known food or medicinal uses. They list no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. They give no pest or disease account for this species. Nor do they state a clear garden role for its looks. Its main recorded value lies in wood and nitrogen fixation. The latter is how it gains nitrogen from the air. Plants For A Future lists it as having no weed potential. The evidence gives no assessment of its conservation status.