I remember watching the discovery channel many years ago about an African tree that was the hardest tree in the world. But, I can't remember the name of the tree.
Facts I remember are: very dense black wood, used to make musical instrument: clarinet, and even when alive it looks like it's dead and dried out.

Anyone have any ideas? I can't concentrate on work until i figure this out.

 

have you tried google? I just googled it and seemed to find it right away.

 

is it ebony?

 

Ebony?

 

yes i tried google, but i keep finding other weird stuff.

so what is it?

 

yeah, the word "hard" usually gets you the other kind of wood...

 

zebra wood

 

Lignum Vitae (ironwood)

 

Some loxopterigyum sagotil (snakewood) can be harder than Lignum Vitae, but Lignum Vitae is generally accepted to be the hardest wood in the world.

 

"Dalbergia melanoxylon. Densest wood in Africa."

http://www.cookwoods.com/Wood_African.htm