Pink Ivory

Taxobox
name = Pink Ivory
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Rhamnaceae
genus = "Berchemia"
species = "B. zeyheri"
binomial = "Berchemia zeyheri"
binomial_authority = (M. Berchem) C.L.P. Zeyher

Pink Ivory ("Berchemia zeyheri"), also called Red Ivory, umNini or umGoloty, is a very rare African wood used to make luxury products (for example billiard queues and knives). The Pink Ivory tree grows predominantly in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. The wood is extremely hard and has a density of 990 g/dm³.

Pink Ivory is the royal tree of the Zulus because only the royal family were allowed to possess the wood. Anyone else possessing the wood (including foreigners) was said to be punished with death. (The death sentence was a legend started in order to increase the value of the wood when sold overseas.)

References

*Translated from German Wikipedia entry for Pink Ivory.
*http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/berchemzey.htm