Melanoxylon

Ebony Eb"on*y, n.; pl. {Ebonies}. [F. ['e]b[`e]ne, L. ebenus, fr. Gr. ?; prob. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. hobn[=i]m, pl. Cf. {Ebon}.] A hard, heavy, and durable wood, which admits of a fine polish or gloss. The usual color is black, but it also occurs red or green. [1913 Webster]

Note: The finest black ebony is the heartwood of {Diospyros reticulata}, of the Mauritius. Other species of the same genus ({D. Ebenum}, {Melanoxylon}, etc.), furnish the ebony of the East Indies and Ceylon. The West Indian green ebony is from a leguminous tree ({Brya Ebenus}), and from the {Exc[ae]caria glandulosa}. [1913 Webster]