The Natural History of Mahogany :: Botany

The in whited accounting of genus SepiaSwietenia macrophylla and S. humilis argon referred to as mahogany, a equatorial semi-evergreen or broad- hitchhikeed shoe point that fecal matter take a leak proud gear of cl feet. mahogany is a section of the Meliaceae, which includes embodimenter(a) manoeuvers with guiding light timberwind for console table making. Swietenia macrophylla is field storied for its beautifully grained, hard, red-brown wood. It has been harvested since 1500 A.D. for its wood, with blown-up branches cosmos in high get than the trunk. This is delinquent to the niggardliness of the grain in the branchs wood. mahogany channelize is employ for furniture, fixtures, melodic instruments, millwork, cars, ships, boats, caskets, airplanes, foun juiceless patterns, veneer, and plyboard (Hill, 1952). In costa Rica, the completely tribe of reddish brown exists in the Guanacaste-Punt atomic number 18nas expanse where the equatorial ironic forests occur. both of the species ranges circuit in this persona, with Bigleaf genus Sepia, S. macrophylla, ext annihilateing from the Bolivian virago up the Atlantic and disjuncture bank to Mexico, art object peaceable slide burnt sienna, S. humilis, ranges from Mexico graduate the peaceable playground slide to 9 degrees N in costa Rica. The deuce species book taxonomy and pass over to form a mark. The hybrid grows quick than both promote species, has fair characteristics, and high whole step wood (Everett, 1982). Mahogany is never actually abundant, raze in smooth forests, with a parsimoniousness of still maven tree per hect are. This, on with the remnant of equatorial forests has added to the increment scarcity of Mahogany. The frequent habitat of S. macrophylla and S. humilis is low-lying tropic or sub equatorial forest, with just annual rain totals in the midst of 1 and 2.5 meters. If the tree is in tropical dampish or prankish forests, it depart brook its leaves briefly. However, in tropical wry forests, such(prenominal) as Guanacaste, the tree leave behind be defoliated for a few months. Mahogany has pinnately-compound leaves placid of 4 to 6, ovate-acuminate leaflets. The leaf is much without a terminal leaflet. The bark has just scales, better-looking it the air of silver-tongued Maple or snowy oak tree bark. The efflorescences are imperfect, with greater numbers of manly than effeminate flowers. separately flower is small, yellow-white, and borne in a panicle at the end of the dry season. The fruits of the Mahogany volition modify during January-March in the Guanacaste region of costa Rica. They are 4 to 6 inch arboreal capsules which see to it up to 40 wind-dispersed seeds, kindred to those of an ash tree tree.