Scientific & Common Names:

Swietenia mahagoni, commonly known as the West Indies mahogany

Native to:

Florida and the islands of the Caribbean

Description:

This majestic tree, native to the West Indies, can grow to more than 75 feet. Leaves are found in 3 to 10 pairs of shiny, stiff, glossy leaflets, each about 6 inches long, with a gently curved mid vein. The trunk may have low buttresses at the base, is ridged and somewhat scaly. The dark red wood is excellent for furniture. It bears fruit that is a hard, wooden, pear-shaped capsule. The fruit starts off green then turns brown, then it splits into 5 segments containing winged seeds hanging from a central stalk, about the size and shape of maple keys. This is a very popular shade tree.

Practical Uses:

Mahogany is a popular hardwood for the construction of furniture, ships and boats, bowls, and for wood carving.

Medicinal Uses:

West Indies mahogany bark, either macerated or in a decoction, can be taken orally with salt to relieve fever. The leaves can be similarly used to alleviate diarrhea and dysentery. Teas of steeped mahogany bark and roots have also been used to improve vitality (due to the tree’s vitamin and iron content). A leaf decoction of the West Indies mahogany can also be used as a tea, or in a bath, to combat colds and fever. In cases of toothache, a treatment can be made from the tree’s resin, or a resin or bark decoction.