Ceylon ebony (Diospyros ebenum)

Diospyros ebenum is true ebony, the tree whose jet-black heartwood was prized for carving, inlay, piano keys and chess pieces. It grows in the dry evergreen forests of Sri Lanka and southern India. Centuries of cutting have made big trees rare, and Sri Lanka has long restricted its export.

Botanical name: Diospyros ebenum J.Koenig ex Retz.
Family: Ebenaceae
Tamil: Karungaali
Hindi: Abnus
Parts used: Timber
Habit: True ebony; tendu is D. melanoxylon
Last updated: 2026-10-25

How to recognise Ceylon ebony

It is a slow-growing evergreen tree with smooth, dark bark and alternate, glossy, oval leaves.

Male and female flowers are on separate trees and are small and inconspicuous. The fruit is a small round berry with a persistent calyx, like a miniature persimmon, which is a relative.

The sapwood is pale. The prized black heartwood forms only slowly at the centre of old trees, which is why ebony has always been scarce and expensive.

Tendu, Diospyros melanoxylon, is the related tree whose leaves wrap beedis. Its heartwood is also dark but streaked.

Traditional use of Ceylon ebony

Craft

Ebony from South India and Sri Lanka travelled the trade routes for over two thousand years and was used for royal furniture, carving, musical instruments and inlay.

Indian Ocean trade history

Modern notes on Ceylon ebony

Wood scientists rank Ceylon ebony among the densest and finest-grained timbers. It sinks in water and takes a mirror polish.

Today most ebony in musical instruments comes from other Diospyros species, many of them also threatened, which is why instrument makers increasingly use substitutes.

Ceylon ebony safety

Fine ebony dust from sanding and turning can irritate skin and airways. Woodworkers use dust extraction and masks.

Ecology and sourcing

It is a tree of dry evergreen forest, a scarce habitat along the Coromandel coast and in Sri Lanka’s dry zone.

Large trees have been removed from most accessible forests. Because the heartwood takes decades to develop, ebony cannot be replaced on a human timescale.

Related plants

Questions about Ceylon ebony

Is Ceylon ebony tendu?

No. Tendu is Diospyros melanoxylon, the beedi-leaf tree.

Why is ebony so expensive?

The black heartwood forms slowly, only in old trees, and wild stocks were cut long ago.

What is the Hindi name of Diospyros ebenum?

Abnus.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.