Coromandel ebony

plant

Also known as: Diospyros melanoxylon

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

Coromandel ebony is a type of East Indian tree, scientifically known as Diospyros melanoxylon. This tree yields a hard, dark-colored wood that is a variety of ebony. Ebony wood, in general, comes from trees of the genus Diospyros and is prized for its density, durability, hardness, and ability to achieve a high polish.12

The Coromandel ebony tree itself is large, reaching heights of 18 to 24 meters (59 to 79 feet). While the term "Coromandel" can also refer to calamander wood, Coromandel ebony specifically denotes the ebony wood derived from Diospyros melanoxylon. This wood has been historically used for various purposes, including cabinetwork, inlaying, and turned articles.213

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

ebony
…ebony is yielded by the Coromandel ebony (D. melanoxylon), a large tree attaining a height of 18–24 metres (59–79 feet) and a circumference of 2.4–3 metres (about 8–10 feet) and having irregular branches and oblong leaves.
Read More
…ebony is yielded by the Coromandel ebony (D. melanoxylon), a large tree attaining a height of 18–24 metres (59–79 feet) and a circumference of 2.4–3 metres (about 8–10 feet) and having irregular branches and oblong leaves.
Read More