Ebony certification in several South Asian countries. Ebony Ebony is a dense black hardwood, most commonly yielded by several different species in the genus "Diospyros", which also contains the persimmons. Ebony is dense enough to sink in water. It is finely-textured and has a very smooth finish when polished, making it valuable as an ornamental wood. The word "ebony" comes from the Ancient Egyptian "hbny", through the Ancient Greek ("ébenos"), into Latin and Middle English. Species of ebony include "Diospyros ebenum" (Ceylon ebony), native to southern India and Sri Lanka; "Diospyros crassiflora" (Gabon ebony), native to western Africa; and "Diospyros celebica"
Diospyros leucomelas Diospyros leucomelas Diospyros leucomelas (marble ebony, bois d'ebene marbre or bois d'ebene a veines) is a species of tree endemic to Mauritius. This low, multi-stemmed tree species resembles the related species "Diospyros egrettarum" (and less so "Diospyros revaughanii") in its dark, rectangular, leathery leaves, rounded leaf-base, very short petiole, and short fruits. "Diospyros leucomelas" can be distinguished by the red midribs of its leaves though, which remain into adulthood and become especially prominent on the leaf undersides. Like the coastal "Diospyros egrettarum" it was most common along the eastern coast of Mauritius. However "D.leucomelas" usually grew at mid altitudes, slightly