Mahagony Fact

Trade or Common Name: Mahagony, true or genuine Mahagony, bigleaf Mahagony, Honduras Mahagony Botanical Name: Swietenia macrophylla Family: Meliaceae The Tree: In the natural rainforest, Mahagony is a very large canopy tree, sometimes reaching over 150 feet in height, with trunks sometimes more than 6 feet in diameter above a large basal buttress. It is a generally open-crowned tree, with gray to brownish-red fissured bark. Status: Mahagony is perhaps the most valuable timber tree among tropical timber and has been heavily exploited for most of this century. Mahagony is becoming increasingly rare, and is already extinct in parts of its original range. It is listed among threatened species. The Wood: Mahagony varies from yellowish, reddish, pinkish, or salmon colored when freshly cut, to a deep rich red, to reddish brown as the wood matures with age. Mahagony is fine to medium texture, with uniform to interlocking grain, ranging from straight to wavy or curly. Irregularities in the grain often produce highly attractive figures such as fiddleback or mottle. Mahagony polishes to a high luster, with excellent working and finishing characteristics. It responds well to hand and machine tools, has good nailing and screwing properties, and turns and carves superbly. Uses: Mahagony is regarded by many as the world's premier wood for fine cabinetry, high-class furniture, trimming fine boats, pianos and other musical instruments, sculpture, joinery, turnery, figured and decorative veneer, interior trim, and carving.

o Related links: Teak Fact | Rattan Fact | Bamboo Fact

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