Pernambuco
The pau-brasil tree (Caesalpinia echinata) is the national tree of Brazil. Pernambuco wood comes from this tree. The tree is native to a coastal strip of Brazil called the Mata Atlantica. The bad news is that the Mata Atlantica forest has been cleared to about 5% of its original extent.
What is the difference between brazilwood and pernambuco wood?
Brazilwood and pernambuco wood do not come from different species of trees. Both come from the pau-brasil tree. The only real difference is density. Pernambuco comes from the innermost part of the tree. Accordingly, it is much more dense and the grain is visibly tighter than that of its counterpart. In addition, pernambuco is much stiffer than brazilwood which enables bowmakers to create exquisitely lightweight bows that have great strength.
This wood, also called Brazilwood is now very rare and in the near future will be unavailable, most likely for many years. It can be used for certain musical instruments, as a dye wood, and makes an excellent turning wood capable of taking fine detail. It finishes to a very fine gloss through sanding alone. Do not confuse it with Chakte viga, a possibly related wood that has somewhat different properties and color.