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BLACKBEAN

Castanospermum australe
Castanospermum australe of the family Fabaceae (syn. Leguminosae) the legume, pea, or bean family. I've only seen the veneer on this Australian species and as you can see from my pics what I've bought has a nice curly figure but judging from the web pics, the curl is not pervasive in the species. This wood is also often called Morton (or Moreton) Bay chestnut.

my samples: NOTE: these pics were all taken in very bright incandescent lighting ("soft white" at 2700K) colors will vary under other lighting conditions

both sides of a sample plank of blackbean / Castanospermum australe --- HUGE enlargements are present.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of blackbean / Castanospermum australe --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


blackbean veneer --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was contributed to the site by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


curly veneer which I bought as blackbean (no botanical designation) --- some vendors would sell this as fiddleback

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The next 5 pics are "mine" only in that they were contributed to me by Bill Rayner whom I thank.
Also I compliment Bill on his excellent photography


small plank and end grain and end grain closeup


ukulele back and sides --- big enlargements are present and the grain is very clear

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The following pics are all of some pieces contributed to the site by Funktionhouse, whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. He has it as Moreton Bay chestnut


face grain (both sides) of a small piece


closeups of the face grain pics directly above


end grain pics of both ends


end grain closeup and END GRAIN UPDATE of the piece directly above


a couple of thin spalted pieces and a closeup

web pics:

plank listed as blackbean / Castanospermum australe (and note the similarity between this and the pieces in my own samples which were give to me as Moreton Bay chestnut)


planks


a very well-photographed, 3" long, piece listed as blackbean / Castanospermum australe with both levels of enlargement, the 2nd of which shows the face grain very nicely


a spalted slab pic given to me by Funktionhouse, whom I thank. He has it as Moreton Bay chestnut


scales


veneer


figured quartersawn bookmatched veneer listed as blackbean / Morton Bay chestnut / Castanospermum australe


listed as "Australian" blackbean veneer, but this is an Australian species, so the "Australian" in the designation is superfluous.


Australian blackbean veneer, all from the same vendor. The first two are lightly figured and the last one has terrific figure. I have no explanation for the huge difference in color between these and the ones directly above but I note that these are much more consistent with my own experience.