Dalbergia melanoxylon (
African blackwood,
grenadilla, or
mpingo) is a
flowering plant in the family
Fabaceae, native to seasonally dry regions of
Africa from
Senegal east to
Eritrea and south to the
Transvaal in
South Africa. The tree is an important
timber species in its native areas; it is used
in the manufacture of musical instruments and fine furniture. Populations and genomic resources for genetic biodiversity maintenance in parts of its native range are threatened by over harvesting due to poor or absent conservation planning and by the species' low germination rates.