Pau-brasil
The pau-brasil is the national tree of Brazil, the country to which it gave its name. The species is only found within several remnants of the Atlantic Coastal Forest where it provides important habitat for orchids and other epiphytes.
Europeans knew of a tree similar to redwood, which was called Biancaea sappan. This tree also had a resin in the wood that was used to dye fabrics, and records indicate that this tree was known by names like “brezil” and “brazily”, and its dye was already used in medieval Europe, since the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. .
When the Portuguese arrived here, in 1500, they soon identified that the tree could supply the demand for this dye in Europe and, with that, the exploration began. The first person who received the right to exploit brazilwood in America was a New Christian (Jew converted to Christianity) named Fernão de Loronha, in 1501.
In 1501, Fernão de Loronha received the right to explore the island of São João (present-day Fernando de Noronha) as his captaincy. He then received the right to exploit the redwood existing in his captaincy, provided that the Asian variety of redwood was no longer imported. In his captaincy, Fernão de Loronha was supposed to transfer a portion of his profit for the activities they carried out, but in relation to pau-brasil, the profit obtained was entirely the Portuguese Crown.
The secret of the Portuguese interest in pau-brasil lies in its interior. The wood has an intense red color, due to the presence of brazilina, a substance that at the time served as a luxurious material for dyeing expensive fabrics.
In 1775, pau-brasil was discovered to be excellent for making violin bows. It was in that year that François Tourte created, in Paris, the first arch with this wood, giving it the name of Fernambouc, for having harvested raw material in the state of Pernambuco. Until today, pau-brasil wood is exported to Germany, France and the United States with the purpose of turning into instruments that cost up to US$ 10 thousand!
In 2006, researchers from the Federal University of Pernambuco brought to light a new use for pau-brasil: the studies carried out concluded that the tree has a substance capable of acting as a great ally in the treatment of cancer.
Some references:
https://www.emsintese.com.br/2011/a-cor-Vermelha-do-pau-brasil/
https://www.brasil247.com/oasis/pau-brasil-metafora-vegetal-de-um-pais
https://globaltrees.org/threatened-trees/trees/pau-brasil/
https://www.pensamentoverde.com.br/meio-ambiente/importancia-pau-brasil-atuosa/
https://mundoeducacao.uol.com.br/historiadobrasil/paubrasil.htm