This poorly reproduced chart (the only one that Blogger would allow me to download) is the Janka Wood Hardness Scale.
This is what Wikipedia has to say about the matter... The Janka hardness test measures the hardness of wood. It measures the force required to embed an 11.28 mm (0.444 in) steel ball into wood to half the ball's diameter. This method leaves an indentation. It is a good measurement technique to determine the ability of a type of wood withstand denting and wear. It is also a good indicator of how resistant it is to sawing and nailing.
The hardness of wood varies with the direction of the wood grain. Testing on the surface of a plank, perpendicular to the grain, is said to be of "side hardness." Testing the cut surface of a stump is called a test of "end hardness."
Wikipedia also says there are two woods harder than Brazilian Ebony; Patagonian Rosewood, and toughest of all Lignum Vitae.
As acquiring a sufficient quantity of any of those three woods would take more planning and be more expensive than the Royal wedding, we settled on Brazilian Walnut/Ipe. Given that only about 10 people a day will be walking on the stuff, I think Ipe should last a few years.
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