Mahogany
Swietenia mahagoni
Plant Family: Meliaceae
Leaves: Alternate, once-compound, with 4 to 10 sickle-shaped leaflets; rachis and petioles bright yellow; the leaflets are asymmetric, the lower part is smaller than the upper part.
Bark: Reddish brown, rough and blocky.
Flowers: Small, five petals, greenish white with a yellow center; seen in the spring into summer.
Fruits: A large, brown, five-part, egg-shaped capsule, to 12 cm; when ripe it splits at the base to release the light airborne seeds; mostly fall into winter.
Habitat: The natural habitat of Mahogany is tropical hammocks, but it is also commonly planted in south Florida along streets and highways.
Growth Form: Mahogany is a long-lived and potentially large tree with an impressive spread; in the open it may be as wide as it is tall.
Key Features: The large size, the sickle-shaped leaflets, and the large fruits make this magnificent tree easy to identify.
Comments: Formerly heavily harvested for its prized wood, it is now protected by law and listed as threatened in the wild.
