Trade name: Bubinga Country of origin: Africa Occurrence: West Africa, from eastern Nigeria through Gabon to Zaire, drier sites in tropical lower rainforests. Trees range in size to 45 m with distinctive, tall root systems. A distinction is made between plain, striped and variegated bubinga wood, the variegated being considered the most valuable at present. Uses: High-quality interior finishing and mass-produced furniture, paneling, parquet flooring. Well suited also for musical instruments. Character: Bubinga has a strikingly beautiful texture, which results either from slightly wavy stripes – caused by alternating growth and narrow color zones – or from light to very lively veining. This expressive African wood species, with a wide spectrum of colors ranging from pink to brown-red to veined purple, exudes something mundane and is therefore also popular for the design of luxury items, inlays or vehicle interiors. Special features: Bubinga as the wood of several species is called, is also traded as „African Rosewood“, but is not to be confused with Rosewood. Despite its hardness and heaviness, it is easy to work with. It is used for furniture, woodturning and inlays.