Stink-wood - Encyclopedia

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

STINK-WOOD, in botany, a South African tree, known botanically as Ocotea bullata, and a member of the family Laurineae. Other names for it are Cape Walnut, Stinkhout, Cape Laurel and Laurel wood. It derives its name from having a strong and unpleasant smell when fresh felled. It is used for building in South Africa and is described by Stone (Timbers of Commerce, p. 1 74) as "the most beautiful dark-coloured wood that I have yet met with." It is said to be a substitute for teak and equally durable. The wood is dark walnut or reddish brown to black with a yellow sap-wood, and the grain extremely fine, close, dense and smooth.