Botanicals Description of Mahogany

Mahogany (Swietenia mahogani) is a member of the family Meliaceae, which contains about
500 other species of trees and shrubs native to tropical forests in the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
Other common names for this species are the Spanish or West Indies mahogany. Various other
species of trees have also been given the name mahogany, but the true mahogany is Swietenia
mahogani. Mahogany is one of the most valuable of the tropical hardwoods because of its
desirable qualities for the crafting of fine furniture.
Mahogany is a commercially important lumber prized for its beauty, durability, and color, and
used for paneling and to make furniture, boats, musical instruments and other items. Mahogany
has a straight, fine, and even grain, and is relatively free of voids and pockets. Its reddish-brown
color darkens over time, and displays a reddish sheen when polished. It has excellent
workability, and is very durable. Historically, the tree's girth allowed for wide boards from
traditional mahogany species. These properties make it a favorable wood for crafting cabinets
and furniture.
Much of the first-quality furniture made in the American colonies from the mid-18th century
was made of mahogany, when the wood first became available to American craftsmen.
Mahogany is still widely used for fine furniture; however, the rarity of Cuban mahogany and
over harvesting of Honduras and Brazilian mahogany has diminished their use.
Mahogany also resists wood rot, making it attractive in boat construction. It is a tone wood,
often used for musical instruments, particularly the backs, sides and necks of acoustic guitars,
electric guitar bodies, and drum shells because of its ability to produce a very deep, warm tone
compared to other commonly used woods such as maple or birch. Mahogany is native to humid
tropical forests of the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America. Until rather recently, mahogany
was especially abundant in forests in Honduras. However, the quantity of mahogany has been
greatly reduced throughout its range by extensive logging. Although much reduced in abundance,
mahogany is not yet considered an endangered species.
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Mahogany is also indigenous to extreme southern Florida, where it occurs in some of the
hardwood "islands" in the saw grass wetlands of Everglades National Park, known locally as
hammocks. However, mahogany reaches the northern limits of its range in southern Florida, and
is rather sparse in that region. Because of its great value as lumber, mahogany has also been
planted in suitable tropical climates beyond its native range.

Botanicals Description of Mahogany

Mahogany are indigenous to extreme southern Florida, where it occurs in some of the
hardwood "islands" in the saw grass wetlands of Everglades National Park, known locally as
hammocks. However, mahogany reaches the northern limits of its range in southern Florida, and
is rather sparse in that region. Because of its great value as lumber, mahogany has also been
planted in suitable tropical climates beyond its native range. Much of the first-quality furniture
made in the American colonies from the mid-18th century was made of mahogany, when the
wood first became available to American craftsmen. Mahogany is still widely used for fine
furniture; however, the rarity of Cuban mahogany and over harvesting of Honduras and Brazilian
mahogany has diminished their use. Mahogany is one of the most valuable of the tropical
hardwoods because of its desirable qualities for the crafting of fine furniture. These properties
make it a favorable wood for crafting cabinets and furniture. Because mahogany is a
commercially important lumber prized for its beauty, durability, and color, and used
for paneling and to make furniture, boats, musical instruments and other items.
Mahogany has a straight, fine, and even grain, and is relatively free of voids and pockets. Its
reddish-brown color darkens over time, and displays a reddish sheen when polished. It has
excellent workability, and is very durable. Mahogany also resists wood rot, making it attractive
in boat construction. It is a tone wood,[ often used for musical instruments, particularly the backs,
sides and necks of acoustic guitars, electric guitar bodies, and drum shells because of its ability
to produce a very deep, warm tone compared to other commonly used woods such
as maple or birch.