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Swietenia mahagoni
Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq.
West Indian Mahogany
Meliaceae (Mahogany Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: SWMA2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), HI (I), PR (N), VI (N)
Usually growing to a height of 50 ft., this mahogany has a well-shaped dense crown of compound leaves with 4-8 leaflets. It is "nearly evergreen" since old leaves are shed suddenly in spring and replaced quickly with new one. Greenish flowers are fairly inconspicuous and are followed by a large, brown pod. Crown large, dense, rounded; trunk buttressed.
This small tree is a native of Florida, the Caribbean, and South America. It has decreased in number over the last several centuries as it has been exploited for its rich hard wood and it has lost considerable habitat to development. Forced to grow in poor habitat conditions, it very often doesn't reach tree-size, growing as a shrub instead.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 100 feet tall, usually much shorter.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Yellow , GreenBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
Bloom Notes: The flowers are produced in loose inflorescences, each flower small, with five white to greenish-yellowish petals.
Distribution
USA: FLNative Distribution: S. FL
Native Habitat: Coastal hammocks
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: SunSoil Description: Well-drained soil.
Conditions Comments: An attractive tree for roadside and home plantings. Requires almost no attention.
Propagation
Description: Propagation is by seed and is quite easy.Commercially Avail: yes
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | UPL | UPL | FACU |
Additional resources
USDA: Find Swietenia mahagoni in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Swietenia mahagoni in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Swietenia mahagoni
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-04-13Research By: TWC Staff