Mahogany

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For other uses, see Mahogany (disambiguation).

This article refers to the timber only.

Image:Swietenia macrophylla wood.jpg The name mahogany was first used for wood of Swietenia mahagoni, later also for the wood of the closely related Swietenia macrophylla. This wood is famed for its use in making furniture (see Chippendale) as easy to work, stable in use, and displays a beautiful reddish sheen when polished. Today, all species of Swietenia are listed by CITES, i.e. protected.

The name "mahogany" is also widely used for that of the African genus Khaya (closely related to Swietenia), more correctly African mahogany.

Used in the plural, "mahoganies" may refer to the wider group of all the timbers yielded by the three related genera Swietenia, Khaya and Entandrophragma. The timbers of Entandrophragma are traded under their individual names, sometimes with "mahogany" attached: for example "sipo" may sometimes be called "sipo mahogany"

In addition the timber trade deals with many so-called "mahoganies" with various adjectives attached, notably "Philippine mahogany". These woods have nothing to do with mahogany proper.

Mahogany has a straight, fine, and even grain, and is relatively free of voids and pockets. Mahogany has a reddish-brown color which darkens over time, and looks beautiful when properly finished. It has excellent workability, and is very durable and slow to rot. For these reasons, it has traditionally been and continues to be a favorite wood for building interiors and boats, and as well for making furniture and other durable objects (e.g. a paddle to last at a fraternity and stable in use).es:Caoba eo:Mahagono nl:Mahonie fr:Acajou pt:Mogno sv:Mahogny zh:桃花心木