Methanol extracted from the "heart wood" of the plant Pterocarpus erinaceous (African rosewood) gave a brick red dyestuff. Chromatographic separation of the dye produced a single homogenous component with an Rf value of 0.78, a yield of about 17.3% and a melting point of 86 degrees C. IR spectrum of the purified dye showed the presence of an aromatic C=C double bond band at 1620-1470 cm(-1) and NH2 absorption characteristic of an aromatic amine N-H stretch at 3590-3400 cm(-1), while para-disubstitution on aromatic nucleus was observed at 850-840 cm(-1). A wavelength of maximum absorbance, lambda(max), of 500 nm was recorded on a UV/visible scan for the solvent soluble dye. The dye, which was substantive to cotton, was applied quantitatively to it and reed fibers by exhaust dyeing technique from locally distilled alcohol.