Mahogany
| Mahogany |
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| Scientific classification |
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| Genera and Species |
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- Entandophragma
- E. utile - Utile or African Mahogany
- Guarea
- G. cedrata - Pink Mahogany
- Khaya
- K. ivoriensis - Ivory Coast Mahogany
- K. senegalensis - Senegal Mahogany
- Swietenia
- S. macrophylla - Honduras Mahogany
- S. mahagoni - West Indian Mahogany
- Toona
- T. ciliata - Indian Mahogany
- T. siensis - Chinese Mahogany
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The name Mahogany was first used in the New World for two trees of the genus Swietenia, namely S. mahagoni (West Indian Mahogany) from the Caribbean and S. macrophylla (Honduras Mahogany) from Central and South America, and also subsequently in the Old World for similar timbers from several related trees, including species from the African genera Entandophragma, Guarea and Khaya, and the Asian genus Toona. These hardwood trees all belong to the mahogany family Meliaceae.
All types of mahogany are used to make furniture because they are easy to work, resist the attack of dry-wood termites, and have a beautiful reddish sheen when polished. The timber is water-resistant and in the past it was used in ship building for this reason. There is a "famous" ship called the 'Mahogany ship' rumored to be buried in the dunes near Warnambool, Victoria.
Mountain-mahogany is the common name for unrelated species in the genus Cercocarpus, in the family Rosaceae.
