African Rosewood (Guibourtia coleosperma), also called False Mopane or Rhodesian Copalwood, grows in the dry woodlands of southern Africa. It's in the same genus as Bubinga, which is why Bubinga is often mistakenly called African Rosewood. It isn't a true rosewood, but it often has a similar look.The heartwood ranges from pink to reddish-brown with purple or red streaks. The grain is generally straight, sometimes interlocked, with a moderately fine texture and a good luster.It works well, though it can blunt tools, and it glues and finishes well. It needs slow, careful drying to avoid warping and cracking, but it's durable and stable once dry, which makes it suitable for outdoor as well as indoor use.The tree has many traditional uses in Africa: its seeds are eaten and pressed for oil, and its bark yields a red dye used to stain furniture. As lumber, it's used for flooring, furniture, decking, millwork, turnings and veneer.