Laburnum musical instruments. In addition to such wind instruments as recorders and flutes, it was a popular wood for Great Highland Bagpipes before taste turned to imported dense tropical hardwoods such as "Brya ebenus" (cocus wood), ebony, and "Dalbergia melanoxylon" (African monkeywood). The heart-wood of a laburnum may be used as a substitute for ebony or rosewood. It is very hard and a dark chocolate brown, with a butter-yellow sapwood. "Laburnum" species and hybrids are cultivated as ornamental trees for gardens and parks. They are also trained as espaliers on pergolas, for ceilings of pendant flowers in season. In its natural
Laburnum Avenue This intersection serves as the northern terminus of SR 197, which follows Laburnum Avenue westward. Laburnum Avenue passes along the northern edge of the Laburnum Park Historic District between Brook Road and SR 161 (Hermitage Avenue); the intersection with SR 161 features a statue of Confederate General A.P. Hill. The boulevard issues a ramp to westbound I-64 before it passes under I-64 and I-95 (Richmond Petersburg Turnpike) south of the complex interchange of those Interstates with I-195 south of Bryan Park. SR 197 splits south onto Saunders Avenue between the mainline Interstates and I-195, with which Laburnum Avenue has a