Swietenia or Mahogany is a genus of Meliaceae family. There are three species in this genus:

 

- Swietenia Humilis (Central America to Mexico)

- Swietenia Macrophylla (The mainland species.)

- Swietenia Mahagani (Native to Florida and the Caribbean, all but extinct.)

 

The trees grow 20-45 meters tall (Up to almost 150 feet), with a maximum trunk diameter of 2 meters (approximately 7 feet!) The trees can live up to 350 years and are either deciduous or evergreen.

 

The young Mahogany wood is light but if it is stained and polished will become a beautiful reddish brown. The same occurs with age. The wood can be used for several applications because of its strength and density. It has a straight grain, and a fine, even texture which accepts many kinds of stains.

 

It is one of the hardest of the neo tropical woods.

 

Swietenia is known as genuine mahogany because there are several other imitation mahoganies, some from Africa, others from the Philippines. Though they are often mistakenly called mahogany, only the Swietenia is truly mahogany. Swietenia Macrophylla is also known as Caoba, Mara, Mogno, big leaf mahogany, Grands Feuilles, Honduras mahogany, Brazilian mahogany, and Araputanga to name a few.

 

The mahogany furnishings you will be purchasing from impressions, is from the species Swietenia Macrophylla. It, like the teak (Tectona Grandis) is plantation grown in Indonesia.

 

The trees are planted, harvested and replanted to ensure the continuation of this sustainable resource.