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Swietenia macrophylla King
| Family Name: | Meliaceae |
| Synonyms: | Swietenia belizensis, Swietenia krokovii, Swietenia candollei, Swietenia tessmannii |
| Common Name: | Broad-leafed Mahogany, American Mahogany, Honduras Mahogany, 大叶桃花心木 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Big (>30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 40 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical America |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Foliage | Leaves are asymmetric, simple pinnate compound, with 4-6 leaflets. Young leaves are pink or red, and gradually change to dark green when mature. Mature leaves are up to 20cm long. |
|---|---|
| Flowers | The tree produces small, fragrant, white flowers, which are held in inflorescences called panicles. |
| Fruit | When ripe, the fruits of the tree are dry hard woody capsules measuring up to 40 cm in length. These split open from apex to base to release numerous winged brown seeds that are dispersed by the wind. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Originating from tropical America, Swietenia macrophylla was introduced into Asia, the Pacific and Africa. S. macrophylla is commonly grown in Singapore as an ornamental roadside tree and is one of the world's most valuable source of hardwood timber used to make furniture. An evergreen tree, S. macrophylla is long-lived and slow-growing and can grow up to 35-40 m tall, with a girth of 3-4m. The bark of young trees is smooth and grey, but becomes dark brown and grey, ridged and flaky when trees mature. Propagation:Propagated from seeds. Seeds can be harvested from mature fruits which are collected directly from the tree, then beaten to open up the capsule. Seeds do not require any pre-treatment. Fresh seeds have a high germination rate of more than 90%. |
| Cultivation | Prefers full sun, well-drained soil and requires moderate water. Care should be taken not to over-water. Prefers slightly acidic soil (pH6.1-6.5). |
| Etymology | The genus epithet Swietenia is derived from the botanist and physician to Maria Theresa of Austria, Gerard von Swieten. The specific epithet macrophylla refers to large leaves, which is derived from the Greek "makros" meaning "large" and "phyllon" meaning "leaf". |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Cultural / Religious: Heritage Tree: There are 9 individuals of Swietenia macrophylla listed as Heritage Trees in Singapore. They are found all over various parts of Singapore. To find out more about these trees, please visit the Heritage Tree Register. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant (Bark) |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Abiotic (Self-Pollinated), Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee), Insects (Butterfly, Moth)) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic, Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Red |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Oblique / Asymmetrical |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
|---|---|
| Mature Bark Texture | Fissured, Peeling / Flaking / Papery |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|
| Inflorescence Type | Panicle |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1857 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3150 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
