What is Mahogany? Part 2: Mahogany other than Swietenia

Swietenia (American mahogany) is not the only genus in the Meliaceae (Mahogany) family that yields high quality timber. The Meliaceae family consists of 49 genera with approximately 550 species. Some have timber uses and some are even used as direct replacements for Swietenia. Others are merely plants and may only produce fruit, oil and seed often used for medicines or lotions. Of the ones that do yield timber, some include the word "mahogany" in their trade name and others do not. This article addresses Mahogany family genera other than Swietenia that have recognized timber uses. There are two terms to know:

GENUINE MAHOGANY as a term applies to mahogany of the Swietenia genus only, wherever grown.

TRUE MAHOGANY describes the timber of any Mahogany family genus other than Swietenia. While there are biological differences between Mahogany genera and species, some are almost indistinguishable from Swietenia in both appearance and properties.

Non-Swietenia mahoganies include:

Khaya

Khaya is a Mahogany family genus that naturally occurs in tropical and sub-tropical Madagascar, the Comoros and continental Africa. It has five species, four of which are endemic to Africa and the other endemic to Madagascar. All species are collectively traded under the name African Mahogany. Khaya is the most accepted Mahogany family timber other than Swietenia to be called "mahogany" without qualification. All Khaya species are considered to be indistinguishable from one another based on macroscopic and microscopic features of their wood and are easily mistaken for Swietenia species. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

Khaya grandifoliola
Khaya senegalensis
Khaya ivorensis
Khaya madagascariensis
Khaya anthotheca

Toona

Toona is a Mahogany family tree native throughout eastern Europe, northern Asia, South East Asia, and Australia. Botanically it is the equivalent of Cedrela which is otherwise native to Central and South America. There are four Toona species (some sources say five), each with their own trade names. Timber from the Asian species are often just called Toon or Surian no matter the species. The Australian species is almost always called Red Cedar. It can be used as a genuine mahogany replacement and has been used in the manufacturing of electric guitars where "mahogany" is specified. Toona is quite similar to Swietenia sonically but lighter in weight. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

Toona ciliata
Toona sinensis
Toona sureni
Toona calantas

Cedrela

Cedrela is a Mahogany family genus with 13 accepted species native to the Carribbean and the Americas. Botanically Cedrela is the equivalent of Australasian Toona except that it is native to the neo-tropics. It is usually traded as Cedro or Spanish Cedar. There are four main commercial species. In the past Cedrela odorata was the second most sought after Latin American timber, second only to Swietenia. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

Cedrela odorata
Cedro fissilis
Cedrela angustifolia (formerly Cedro lilloi)
Cedrela montana

Entandrophragma

Entandrophragma is a genus in the Mahogany family with 11 species, native to tropical Africa. Five of the eleven species have timber uses and are traded individually under different trade names, usually Sapele or Sipo. This wood is a popular genuine mahogany substitute. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

Entandrophragma cylindricum
Entandrophragma utile
Entandrophragma angolense
Entandrophragma candollei
Entandrophragma caudatum

Guarea

Guarea is a Mahogany family genus with 71 species native to Africa and Central and Latin America. Two species in Africa have timber uses and two species in Latin America have timber uses. It is traded as Bosse, Guarea, and Pink mahogany. The wood is pinkish to reddish-brownCLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

Guarea cedrata
Guarea thompsoni
Guarea guidonia (formerly named Guarea grandifolia)
Guarea glabra

Chukrasia tabularis

Chukrasia tabularis, is a single-genus/species Mahogany family tree native to southern China, South East Asia, and India. It is traded mainly as Chittagong wood, East Indian mahogany, or Indian redwood. Its wood colour ranges from pale reddish-brown, to yellowish-red, or red, and darkens to various shades of dark brown. Grain is usually straight but sometimes can be wavy or have swirl. Small exports originate from Myanmar and India. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Carapa

Carapa is a Mahogany family genus with two species native to Central and South America and one species native to Africa. In addition to timber uses, seeds from the South American trees are used to make Andiroba oil which is a common topical medicine in the Amazon. The colour of its timber ranges from light salmon to reddish-brown that darkens with time to a medium to dark shade. Central and south American species can be traded as Royal Mahogany or Crabwood, or Tangere. The African species is known as Okoto. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

Carapa guianensis,
Carapa megistocarpa,
Carapa procera

Cabralea canjerana

Cabralea canjerana is a single Mahogany family tree genus/species found only in South America and pretty much unknown to the rest of the world. Its local Spanish name is Cangerana and Cajarana. Widely available in Brazil, it is used in local general carpentry, furniture, interior construction, carvings and joinery. Its colour is usually blood red or maroon often with purplish markings. It is popular for bodies and necks of guitars in South America. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

Melia

Melia is a Mahogany family tree with three species, one of which yields high-quality timber but has no commercial or export interest. Melia azedarach is native to Pakistan, India, China, South East Asia and Australia. It is mainly known as Chinaberry, with White Cedar, Bead-Tree, Cape Lilac, and Persian Lilac as lesser used names. It is an invasive species in the United States. Its timber is reddish-brown with a straight but coarse grain. In Asia it is used to manufacture agricultural implements, furniture, plywood, boxes, poles, tool handles etc. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

Turraeanthus africanus

Turraeanthus africanus is a single Mahogany family genus/species native to Africa. It is most known as Avidore but also goes by the English names African White Mahogany and African Satinwood. It is the lightest-coloured Mahogany family timber being a cream or pale yellow and can have figure. It’s timber is used mostly as veneer, but the wood is suitable for cabinetry, furniture, decorative items, and plywood. It is a significant export timber from Côte d’Ivoire. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

Trichilia

Trichilia is a Mahogany family genus with 70 species, four of which are native to Africa and the remainder native to West Indies and ranges from Mexico through Central America to Brazil and Bolivia in South America. There are 43 species alone in Brazil. Two of the four African species have timber uses and one species of the American species is recognized for its timber uses. The colour of the timber varies from pink, brown to yellow depending on where it is grown. The two African species are known as Natal mahogany, Cape mahogany, Ethiopian mahogany, and Forest mahogany. The Caribbean and Central and South American species is known as Broomstick. There is no international trade of any of these species. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

Trichilia emetica
Trichilia dregeana
Trichilia hirta

Aglaia

Aglaia is a Mahogany family genus consisting of 120 species ranging from India, China, South East Asia, Papua New Guinea, to northern Australia, and Oceania. There are over 50 species alone in Philippines and in Papua New Guinea. Some species have timber uses and others are small trees or shrubs which bear edible fruit, or yield oils for medicines and pharmaceuticals. There are 3 major timber species. The wood colour ranges from almost white to walnut brown, depending on the species. There are almost as many trade names as there are species, the main ones being Amoora (Australia, Papua New Guinea), Pacific Maple (USA and UK), Bekak (Malyasia) and Kato (Philippines) for those that yield timber. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

Aglaia cucullata
Aglaia argentea
Aglaia silvestris

Lovoa

Lovoa is a Mahogany family genus with two species, both native to Africa. Both yield very high quality timber suitable for many uses, but it is generally used commercially veneer and construction material. It has been used to make pianos. Timber from these species range in colour from yellowish brown to dark brown, sometimes with darker streaks and veins. It is traded as Brown Mahogany, Dibetou, and African walnut. Pieces with striped figure are traded as Tigerwood. The second species is also sometimes called Kilamanjaro Mahogany. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION.

Lovoa trichilioides
Lovoa swynnertonii

Pseudocedrela kotschyi

HARD CEDAR MAHOGANY

Pseudocedrela kotschyi is a single Mahogany family genus/species occurring in the tropical zone of central Africa, from Senegal east to western Ethiopia and Uganda. It is also called DRY-ZONE CEDAR and SEGODERE. It is reddish-brown with interlocked and even grain and can have figure. It grows wild and is unmanaged. It is one of the most widely exploited species in Benin. Wood from this species is valued locally for high-class joinery, furniture and cabinet making, and for construction. It is also used locally for doors, windows, frames, drums, barrels, canoes, mortars, bowls and gun-stocks. It is suitable for flooring, interior trim, ship building, vehicle bodies, musical instruments, toys, novelties, carvings, turnery, veneer and plywood. The wood is also used as firewood and for charcoal production. It's bark, roots, and leaves have numerous uses in traditional medicine in the treatment of various diseases including diabetes, malaria, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. In Nigeria the bark is used as an ingredient of arrow poison, and in Côte d’Ivoire as a fish poison. The bark yields a brownish dye that has been used in West Africa for dyeing cloth. It is visually similar to other mahoganies, particularly Khaya senegalensis, but is heavier and harder. There appears to be no international trade in this wood.

References:

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2547087

Segodere (Pseudocedrela kotschyi) | ITTO

Pseudocedrela kotschyi (PROTA) - PlantUse English

https://prota.prota4u.org/protav8.asp?h=M7,M9&t=mahogany&p=Pseudocedrela+kotschyi#Uses

http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=57223

http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pseudocedrela+kotschyi

http://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.upwta.4_196

http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2014/details/species/id/16835656/source/tree

Dysoxylum

Dysoxylum is a Mahogany family genus consisting of 80 species which is endemic to much of Asia and Oceania.

NEW ZEALAND MAHOGANY

Dysoxylum spectibile is native to New Zealand. Its local name is KOHEKOHE. It grows mainly in North Island and northern parts of South Island. New Zealand mahogany is softer than other Mahogany family timbers and is used in general carpentry. It has been used by at least one New Zealand luthier as a tonewood for acoustic guitars. A major threat to this species as well as many other native plants and trees are possums which were introduced from Australia in 1837. Effective controls have only been in place since 1990. Note, New Zealand Kohekohe should not be confused with the plant of the same name which is native to Hawaii.

References:

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2780180

http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=1825

http://www.timberarts.co.nz/shop/content/13-the-timber-arts-forest#Kohekohe

http://www.singingwood.co.nz/files/390/file/NATIVE-WOOD-INFO-FOR-WEBSITE-Original-Doc-pdf

http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2014/details/species/id/16837534/source/tree

AUSTRALIAN ROSE MAHOGANY

Dysoxylum fraserianum is an Australian Mahogany family species native to New South Wales and Queensland. This species is more often called ROSE WOOD in Australia. Its timber is a red-brown colour and is used for furniture, plywood, shop and office fixtures, carving, turnery, and joinery. I have seen it used as a body wood in some Australia-made guitars.

References:

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2779963

https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/forestry/using-wood-and-its-benefits/wood-properties-of-timber-trees/rose-mahogany

https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/forestry/using-wood-and-its-benefits/wood-properties-of-timber-trees/miva-mahogany

http://woodgroupsa.org.au/wSAknowledge/RoseMahoganyOzRosewood.pdf

http://dwfgallery.com/australian-rosewood

http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2014/details/species/id/16837257/source/tree

Ekebergia

Ekebergia is an African Mahogany family genus with four species ranging from Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Only one species has recognized timber uses.

CAPE ASH

Ekebergia capensis is native to Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The timber colour of this tree is straw to light-brown. It is not a very good quality wood and is quite light. It is a popular street tree in South Africa, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. There is no international trade in its timber however it is used locally for furniture, light construction, poles, tool handles, panelling, beams for boat building, sides of wagons, doors, windows, carving, interior carpentry and broom handles.

References:

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Ekebergia

http://www.prota4u.org/protav8.asp?h=M4&t=Ekebergia,capensis&p=Ekebergia+capensis#Synonyms

http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Ekebergia_capensis.PDF

http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantefg/ekebergcap.htm

http://treeco-treeco.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/ekebergia-capensis-cape-ash.html

http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2014/details/species/id/16836196/source/tree

http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ekebergia+capensis

Synoum glandulosum

SCENTLESS ROSE WOOD

Synoum glandulosum is a single Australian Mahogany family genus and species mainly known as SCENTLESS ROSEWOOD, but also as RED SYCAMORE or BASTARD ROSEWOOD. It is native to eastern New South Wales and north-eastern Queensland. The wood from this species is red to reddish-brown and is botanically very close to Australian Red Cedar (Toona.) Its timber is used in local construction as sawn timber for general house framing, flooring, mouldings and joinery. It is also used for furniture, shop and office fixtures, panelling, turnery, carving, as structural plywood, scaffold planks, wood wool, paper products, particleboard, and medium density fibreboard. It is not considered a first class timber and I am unaware of this being used specifically as a tone wood for musical instruments.

References:

https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/forestry/using-wood-and-its-benefits/wood-properties-of-timber-trees/scentless-rosewood

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/forests-wood/properties-timbers/scentless-rosewood

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/tro-100356312

http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:apni.taxon:342226

Part 3: Non-mahogany traded as "mahog any"