Mahogany, South American

(Swietenia macrophylla)

South America

The growth range of the species is distributed throughout the rainforests of Latin American. Mahogany is perhaps the most valuable timber tree in the whole of Latin America and has been heavily exploited for most of this century. Mahogany is becoming increasingly rare, and is already extinct in parts of its original range.

South American Mahogany is also referred to as True or Genuine Mahogany, Big Leaf Mahogany, Central American Mahogany, British Honduras Mahogany, Costa Rican Mahogany, Brazilian Mahogany, Peruvian Mahogany, Nicaraguan Mahogany.

This hardwood varies from yellowish, reddish, pinkish, or salmon colored when freshly cut, to a deep rich red, to reddish brown as the wood matures with age. Mahogany is fine to medium texture, with uniform to interlocking grain, ranging from straight to wavy or curly. Irregularities in the grain often produce highly attractive figures such as fiddleback or mottle.