Brazilwood

Brazilwood or Pau-Brasil, sometimes known as Pernambuco wood (Caesalpina echinata) is a Brazilian tree. It has a dense, orange-red wood (which takes a high shine), and it is the most frequently used wood for making bows for string instruments from the violin family. The wood also gives a red dye called brazilin.

Brazilwood
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Caesalpinioideae
Genus:	Caesalpinia
Binomial name
Caesalpinia echinata Lam.
natural range

There are several trees in this family which have very similar properties, including the development of red dye. The term "brazilwood" is sometimes used for these other species as well. The tree was exploited for their dye in the 18th century, and is now lost over much of its original range.^[1]

When Pedro Álvares Cabral explored Brazil, he named it after the brazilwood that he found there.

Map of the Number of Logs of Brazilwood Discovered in the Captaincy of Ilhéus.