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Swietenia
mahagoni
Mahogany
Swietenia
mahagoni is the rare and very expensive species
of wood that has been used to construct fine furniture
for hundreds of years. Mahogany traditionally came from
Central and South America where it was first observed in
1595 by a carpenter accompanying Sir Walter Raleigh on
his explorations of the "New World".
When
properly finished and polished to a rich sheen, mahogany
has a deep rich red color. It was first used extensively
for furniture making in the reign of George I of England
and became very sought after from that time onwards. The
most common source was Jamaica, but it was also imported
from Cuba and Honduras.
Swietenia mahagoni
is a Florida native that
ironically is becoming a rare find in the wild due to
land development, but is increasingly found as a street
and yard tree in the southern portions of the state.
Plant
Facts:
Common Name:
Swietenia
mahagoni
Botanical Name:
Mahogany
Plant Type:
Deciduous tree
Zones:
10-11
Height:
To 60'
Soil Requirements:
Well drained soil.
Water Requirements: Good
drought tolerance.
Light Requirements: Full
sun to partial shade.
Leaves:
Compound, alternate on the stems, 4-8" in
length. Leaflets are 4-8 in number, 1-4" long, dark
green above and pale yellow to reddish brown beneath.
Narrowly oval with sharp tips and uneven bases.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruit: Fall
or winter, large woody pods, from 2-5" long. At
maturity they split from the base upward, releasing
flat, winged seeds about 3/4" long.
Uses:
Shade tree.
Propagation:
Seeds
Source:
Native Florida Plants, Revised Edition |
