History

• During the reign of Elizabeth I, Sir Walter Raleigh presented her majesty with a mahogany table. This is sometimes regarded as the introduction of mahogany to England. Later, in the eighteenth century, mahogany saw an increasing interest. During that time most of the high quality furniture exported from American colonies was constructed with mahogany.
  
  

Identification

• Mahogany was a name originally given to the tree swietenia mahogani, also called Cuban mahogany or true mahogany, and later swietenia macrophylla, also called Honduras mahogany. Since then the name has spread to mean a diversity of trees types used for timber. Most of these other trees are in the family meliaceae, which includes mainly tropical trees and shrubs. Plants within this family usually have a scent.
  
  

Warning

• Because of over usage, all swietenia mahogany species are now labeled protected by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Cuban and Honduras mahogany are still harvested, under restriction, because of its rarity.
  
  

Types

• Three main types of mahogany exist--entandrophragma, swietenia (American tropics genus) and khaya (West African genus). From these three species come 15 offshoot species. The species connected to entandrophragma are usually sold with individual names, sometimes with the word mahogany added to it.
  
  

Considerations

• Mahogany is also used symbolically, even on emblems. The Dominican Republic's national tree is mahogany, and in Belize a mahogany is represented on its national seal. The swietenia species crossbreed when planted next to each other. A hybrid of Cuban mahogany and Honduras mahogany is now grown for timber. Mahogany has recently begun to be used in phonograph record cartridges in the higher end of the market. In the same way, mahogany is being used for stereo head phones for the same reason as musical instruments--it gives a warm sound.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Within the timber trade of the U.S. the FTC has defined certain types of trees "mahogany."One of the most well known "mahoganies" is Philippine mahogany, a lesser quality wood from the genus Shorea. Not all types of mahogany wood are red-brown. Some types of mahogany are golden brown.