Santos Rosewood / Pau Ferro / Morado

Family: Fabaceae - Order: Fabales - Class: Magnoliopsida

Scientific name: Machaerium scleroxylon, Machaerium Sp.

Trade name: Pau Ferro, Santos Rosewood

Also known as Caviuna, Palo Morado, Isapuí

Origin: Tropical South America

Instrumental uses:
Guitar back and sides, fingerboards, bridges, head plates, peg heads and bindings.

Tonal properties:

Is not a true Rosewood but somewhat similar in properties; more dense than some rosewoods but mostly neutral sounding. A big advantage above. A great overall frequency range and a fast responsive wood with a nice sustained sound. On Classical Guitar sets it fits well with all types of tops. This wood when used in back and sides directly relates the qualities and sounds of the wood used for the top.

Used in fingerboards it has a very well balanced tonal transmission.

The grain is either straight to interlocked on some kinds. The texture is very fine and lustrous.

Can be a little difficult to work but glues and finishes very well.

Is an exotic hard wood, stiff and very resistant with an average dried weight nearly 54 lbs/ft³  or 865  kg/m3. 

It is a native from Tropical South America. It grows in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. It is abundant in the Parana Basin in primary and secondary forests on well drained areas. It prefers stony, fertile clayey soils.

It is a medium sized tree, it attains heights of 15 to 25 m, with a diameter at breast height of 50 to 90 cm. The bole is fluted until half of its length.

The heartwood can be highly varied, ranging from reddish/orange to a dark violet/brown, usually with contrasting darker black streaks. The sapwood is pale yellow and is clearly demarcated from the heartwood.

CITES status is unrestricted. Is reported on the IUCN Red List as least concern.