Queen Elizabeth is said to have been interested in samples of mahogany brought by Sir Walter Raleigh on his return from Trinidad in 1595. The fruit is a large (4-6") greenish-brown woody capsule, splitting into 5 parts releasing the flat, long winged, light-brown seeds. Mahogany, obtained from several species in the genus Swietenia, is regarded as the world’s finest timber for high-class furniture and cabinet work. Three-ply laminations of mahogany, poplar and mahogany are found in top of the line drum shells. The wood is also used in the manufacture of electric guitars such as the Gibson Les Paul models: the Custom, the Deluxe and the Studio. [10] Catesby's hand-colored plate of the mahogany tree, along with a description in English and French (not Latin as might have been expected), was the basis for Linnaeus using his new binomial nomenclature to name it. "[11], Mahogany, cedar and other woods were shipped more or less regularly from the West Indies to Spain long before 1575, for Spain at that time dominated the world and its demand for ship building timbers was enormous. Most trees, particularly planted street trees … It also was used extensively in the manufacture of fortepianos, astronomical and surveying instruments, and cases for delicate apparatuses such as scales, microscopes, and microtomes. The fruits are brown capsules with large and winged seeds. In the Florida Keys and south Florida, the species grows at the northern extent of its range, with individuals reaching 10–15 metres (33–49 ft) tall. It is hardy to zone (UK) 10 and is frost tender. A native of South Florida, the mahogany tree grows a naturally beautiful canopy of small pretty leaves that create dappled shade. The Swietenia mahagoni is native to southern Florida, the Caribbean, and the West Indies. West Indian Mahogany Meliaceae (Mahogany Family) Synonym(s): USDA Symbol: SWMA2 USDA Native Status: L48 (N), HI (I), PR (N), VI Usually … How to Grow Swietenia Mahagoni From Seed. Mahogany can reach 75 feet in height with a 50-foot-spread but is more often seen at 40 to 60 feet tall and wide. This is the 'original' mahogany tree. C; rainfall … The Gibraltar was captured in 1780 and was finally broken up in 1836. Seeds are now available at our seed store. Named by Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin in 1760 after Gerard van Swieten +‎ -ia. Shipment of such woods was made in the summer of 1579 and others followed through a period of ten years at least. This large, semi-evergreen tree forms a loose, rounded canopy and casts light, dappled shade, suitable for maintaining a lawn beneath. Spain itself had no timber suitable for building ships and its unfriendly relations with northern Europe made drawing supplies from that source impossible; consequently it obtained timber from San Domingo, Cuba and Jamaica for building many ships of the Spanish Armada prior to 1588. Swietenia has a long history of being used to make boxes and cases for scientific instruments and other mechanisms, as well as furniture and ornamental woodwork. Swietenia macrophylla, otherwise known as Big Leaf Mahogany or Honduras Mahogany, is a slow-growing, tall, tropical tree reaching a height of about 40-60 m. Often buttressed, the trunk is covered with gray and cracked bark. As a testament to the strength of this type of construction, several PT boats withstood catastrophic battle damage and still remained afloat. There has been some research into the acaricidal effects of its leaves and bark for control of the honey bee pest Varroa destructor[17]. It is managed jointly by the International Institute of Tropical Forestry with an adjoining privately owned tree farm at Estate Bellevue which belongs to the testamentary estate of Dr. Richard Marshall Bond, a biologist who supervised the establishment of the federal tree farm at Estate Thomas. [5] It is the national tree of the Dominican Republic. His classification still stands. Large sailing vessels with mahogany framework were sold for enormous prices and manufactured into fine furniture."[9]. Zone: 10a-11 (30°F Minimum… Small-leaved mahogany was introduced in India from … [19] This species was the first to be … Mahogany: Swietenia mahagoni Family: Meliaceae Common names: Mahogany, Cuban Mahogany, West Indian Mahogany Synonyms (Discarded name): Cedrela mahagoni Origin: South Florida, Bahamas, and Caribbean U.S.D.A. Swietenia mahagoni Mahogany. Swietenia mahagoni, commonly called mahogany or West Indies mahogany, is an evergreen tree with a dense, dome-shaped, rounded but sometimes spreading crown. The next significant recorded use was in 1597, regarding repairs for Sir Walter Raleigh's ships in the West Indies. "When in 1578 the king ordered incorruptible [i.e. The crown is large, open, and round. The dense, strong wood of mahogany is quite resistant to wind-damage on properly trained trees, making this tree all the more ideal for use as a shade tree or street tree. Mahogany became the essential material that led to the golden age of British furniture-making in the 18th century, which Percy Macquoid, a connoisseur of English furniture, calls the "Age of Mahogany". Furniture makers have used the wood more or less continuously since then not only in the United Kingdom, but in France, Spain and Italy as well. Mahogany was formerly much used for the interior finish of railroad parlor cars, public buildings, hotels, and dwellings and for office fixtures. $19.50. Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) casts a light, dappled shade on the ground below, making it a great shade tree for landscapes with enough room for it to thrive. Swietenia mahagoni. [14] The first use of S. mahagoni in the United Kingdom for cabinet work was in 1724.[9]. Tropical rockland hammock, coastal hammocks. It was heavily logged in South Florida prior to the 1900s and is listed as threatened in … Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. It is also grown as an ornamental tree in subtropical and tropical regions. New leaves emerge blood red to pinkish, quickly becoming a bright, light green and darkening as they mature. [9] Figure 1. It seems likely that the merits of mahogany were already well-known and that it was used extensively, since King Philip II of Spain's advisors requisitioned it for making the interior trim work and elaborate furniture of a group of some of the most expensive buildings ever built in Europe:[7] The wood has been internationally traded for over 400 years. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies S. mahagoni as Endangered. The fruit is a fleshy capsule the size of an avocado that breaks apart to release winged seeds. Swietenia mahagoni is native to southern Florida and the islands of the Caribbean Sea. Attracts a diverse community of small butterflies and moths. ... Fruit Description: The fruit … [8] According to a passage quoted by the British naval historian, Halton Stirling Lecky, Spain continued building ships from West Indies mahogany for two hundred more years: "...Several Spanish men-of-war were captured by the British during naval battles. Description. 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