Sneeze-wood

Sneeze-wood (Pteroxylon utile; nat. order Sapindaceæ), one of the largest and most valuable trees in Cape Colony, sometimes yielding logs 80 feet long by 4 feet in diameter. The wood is of a yellowish colour, and has a handsome appearance somewhat resembling satinwood in the grain. It is difficult to work owing to its great hardness, but is believed to be very durable. It is employed for cabinet-making, for carpentry work, and for engineering purposes. Neither the white ant nor the teredo, it is said, will penetrate it. Its native name is Umtati, and it derives its English name (a translation of the Dutch Nies-hout) from the irritating nature of the dust which results from sawing or otherwise working it, and which causes sneezing.