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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Plantation species? Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Swietenia macrophylla Trade Name Honduras mahogany Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Swietenia krukovii, Swietenia tessmannii, Swietenia candollei Common Names Acajou, Acajou Amerique, Acajou d'Amerique, Acajou du Honduras, Aguano, American mahogany, Americkaans mahonie, Amerikaans mahonie, Aquano de tabasco, Ara putange, Araputanga, Bastard lime, Bay-mahogany, Baywood, Belize mahogany, Big leafed mahogany, Big-leafed mahogany, Bigleaf mahogany, Brazilian mahogany, Broad leaved mahogany, Broad-leaved mahogany, Cabano, Caguano, Campeche, Cao, Caoba, Caoba Americana, Caoba de Atlantico, Caoba de Honduras, Caoba Hondurea, Caoba Hondurena, Caoba mahogany, Caoba roja, Caobilla, Cedro espinoso, Cedro-rana, Central American mahogany, Chacalte, Chiapas, Chiculte, Chiculti, Cobano, Costa Rica mahogany, Costa Rico mahogany, Crura, Cuban mahogany, Flor de veradillo, Gateado, Giai ngua, Granadillo, Guatemala mahogany, Honduras mahogany, Large leaf mahogany, Large leaved mahogany, Madeira, Mahogany, Mahogany Honduras, Mahoni, Mahonie, Mara, Mogno, Mogno do rio Jurupari, Orura, Palo xopilote, Palo xopliote, Palo zopilote, Peruvian mahogany, Punab, Purab, Red cedar, Red wood, Resadillo, Sisam, Tabasco mahogany, Tzopible, Tzopilote, Tzutzul, Venezuela mahogany, Zopilocuahuitl, Zopilote, Zopilozontecomacuahuitl Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji [Polynesia], Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico [US], Solomon Islands, Venezuela Common Uses Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drawing boards, Drum sticks, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Model airplanes, Moldings, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Office furniture, Organ pipes, Paneling , Paneling, Particleboard, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood corestock, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Scientific instruments, Sculpture, Shipbuilding, Tables, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Widespread Some long-term concern for the species Secure within many parts of its natural range, but not completely assessed Rare in parts of its natural range Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within parts of its range Endangered within parts of its natural boundaries Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy Considered vulnerable in its natural habitat because its numbers are threatened by serious adverse factors throughout its range. However, the species likely exists today in relatively large numbers. There is some long-term concern about its continued abundance in these areas and the threat to its population in other areas While it is relatively secure in El Salvador and Honduras, the status of Honduras mahogany in Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, and Bolivia is known to be either Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare. The species is Vulnerable in Nicaragua, Rare in Colombia and Endangered within its natural boundaries in Guatemala and the following regions in Brazil: Acre, Amazonas, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Para, and Rondonia Distribution Overview Perhaps the most valuable timber tree in the whole of tropical Latin America, Honduras mahogany has an extensive tropical distribution, from the north of the State of Veracruz to Yucatan in Mexico, and along the north Atlantic slope of Central America to Venezuela and Brazil. It also occurs in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia at elevations of up to 4900 feet (1500 m), and on Cape Verde Islands. It is usually found in dry forests but it also occurs in moist and gallery forests. S. macrophylla is now widely planted throughout the whole of the tropics as a forest crop and currently provides almost all mahogany on the commercial market. Heartwood Color Red Brown Purple Reddish brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Pale red to pink Brown Dark brown Red Dark brown Yellow White to cream Salmon pink to light pinkish brown, or reddish brown Pink Matures into deep reddish brown Exposure to sunlight may fade color Color varies considerably The wide variability in color has enabled many look-alike species to be marketed as mahogany. Sapwood Color Brown Red Pink White to yellow Well defined Pinkish Whitish Paler than heartwood Different than heartwood Grain Figure Straight Interlocked Stripe (figure) Growth rings (figure) Wavy Distinct (figure) Closed Even Mottled (figure) Rippled (figure) Variable (figure) Irregular Straight Interlocked Striped figure Wavy Clear growth rings (figure) Distinct figure Variable figure Rippled figure Mottled figure Straight to roey, wavy, or curly Storied waves produce wavy horizontal bands across the surface of flat-sawn boards Irregular Irregularities in the grain often produce highly attractive figures such as, fiddleback, blister, stripe or roe, and mottle. Texture Fine Medium Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Fine Fine to medium Coarse and uniform Luster Medium High Pronounced Lustrous Slightly lustrous High Golden luster Natural Growth Defects Yellowish deposits in vessels Whitish deposits in vessels Whitish deposits in vessels Brittleheart is rare or absent. When present, it is sparse in amount Natural Durability Resistant to marine borers Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Durable Resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Non-durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Very durable Moderately durable Susceptible to pinhole borers Suitable for marine applications Non durable Heartwood susceptible to marine borer attack Heartwood resistant to attack by white rot and brown rot fungi Heartwood moderately resistant to dry-wood termites Heartwood has high resistance to decay Good weathering properties Mahogany has very good weathering qualities which makes a very good choice for boat building. Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Some toxic effects Unspecified toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Dry at a moderate speed T6 - D4 (4/4) US T3 - D3 (8/4) US Schedule F (4/4) United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying Defects Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Distortion Checking Splitting Slight surface checking Slight twist/warp Moderate twist/warp No surface checking No end splitting Moderate surface checking Slight spring/bow Slight end splitting Slight cupping No twisting or warping No resin/gum exudation No cupping, generally No collapse/honeycomb Moderate end spitting Generally free from spring and bow Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Slowly Easy Dries easily with very little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 50-60 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Bark width is 10-15 mm Bark width is 15-20 mm Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber for export. It is exported in the form of square-edged timber, veneers, and plywood. Honduras mahogany is readily available at moderate prices at present, but its continued availability is of some concern because of high demand. Current supplies of the standing trees are also becoming more inaccessible and scarce due to exploitation. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Tension wood may be present Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Blunting effect on machining is slight Slight Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Easy Good results Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Generally good results Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw