Pterocarpus is a pantropical tree genus in the Fabaceae family. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae, and was recently assigned to the informal monophyletic Pterocarpus clade within the Dalbergieae.
Rosewood is any of a number of richly hued hardwoods, often brownish with darker veining, but found in other colours. It is hard, tough, strong, and dense. True rosewoods come from trees of the genus
A classic rosewood surface (Dalbergia nigra)
Chess pieces in Dalbergia latifolia rosewood
A Ming Dynasty rosewood wardrobe, 16th century.
Back of guitar made with East Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia)