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Mopane--the lightning tree!
Mopane
(colophospermum mopane)
(Moe-pah-nee)
Mopane is a wood that is excellent
for making bagpipes, flutes and other woodwind instruments. Some
people even prefer the sound to that of African blackwood, the industry
standard. Interestingly, in a work published in 1857 about
his African missionary travels, the famous Dr. David Livingstone ("Dr.
Livingstone, I presume") mentions mopane as a tree that the natives warned
him to stay away from in a lightning storm, as they said "the lightning
hates it". Apparently the tree is struck by lightning much more than
other trees in the area. Mopane is the national tree of Namibia.
It is a very hard and dense wood, being an excellent turning wood and musical
instrument wood. Has a specific gravity around 1.0 or sometimes more.
The pieces sold below are on the high end of density. It is an easily dried wood, most pieces sold are at least partially dried.
Order online, or call us
Monday through Friday: 970-241-2827
International callers and all Questions:
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Note that everything on this page (photos too!)
are copyrighted and may not be used
without written permission. Copyright
2006 by James Griffin. If you are a customer
and desire to use some of our photos on your
website, call us with your request.