Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Maximum Height | 25 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical America |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree, up to 25 m tall, with buttresses. Bark is smooth grey when young, and becoming reddish-brown and scaly as the tree mature. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are pinnate, up to 35 cm long and comprise of 8 – 12 pairs of leaflets. Leaflet is leathery, ovate to lanceolate (10 – 16 cm long and 4 – 6 cm wide) with entire or serrated leaf margin. It is light green on the upper surface while dark green on the lower surface. Leaflet has unequal oblique base, acuminate apex and a short petiole (0.3 – 0.6 cm long). |
| Flowers | Inflorescence occurs at the axillary position and comprises of small flowers. Flowers are greenish yellow with 5 petals, 5 sepals, cylindrical staminal tube, and 10 stamens. Usually only one flower develops into fruit even when pollination occurs on all flowers. |
| Fruit | Fruit is woody, brown and oval shaped (6 – 10 cm long). Mature fruit splits open into 5 parts and releases numerous brown winged seeds (4 – 7 cm long). |
| Associated Fauna | It is pollinated by insects. |
| Cultivation | Hybridization with Swietenia macrophylla is common if they are grown in proximity. |
| Etymology | Genus Swietenia commemorates Gerard von Swieten (1700-1772), botanist and physician to Maria Theresa of Austria. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Timber & Products: Wood is highly valuable and resistant to decay or insect attack. It is dark reddish brown and used to make furniture, musical instruments and veneer. Cultural / Religious: Heritage Tree: There is currently one individual of Swietenia mahagoni listed as Heritage Tree in Singapore. To find out more about this tree, please visit the Heritage Tree Register. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Shade Providing Tree / Palm |
|---|
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1858 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3151 |
| 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. |
