126 THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF WOOD. 



Mahogany. Swietenia mahogani Jacq. 



Nomenclature. 



Mahogany (local and common Honduras Mahogany (Hon- 



name). duras). 



Spanish Mahogany (Cuba. San Baywood, Madeira, Redwood. 



Domingo, West Indies). 

 Mexican Mahogany (Frontera, 



Laguna, Santa Anna, and 



other Mexican ports). 

 Locality. 



Florida Keys, Bahamas, West Indies, Mexico, Central America, 



Peru. 



Features of Tree. 



Florida specimens forty-five feet in height and two or more feet 

 in diameter. Foreign trees larger. 



Color, Appearance, or Grain of Wood. 



Light, rich reddish brown. Thin sapwood yellow. Smooth, 

 fine uniform texture, inconspicuous rings, conspicuous pores, 

 sometimes filled with white substance. 



Structural Qualities of Wood. 



Strong, brittle, durable, holds glue, takes stains and high 

 polish, small distortion in seasoning, stands well. 



v / Representative Uses of Wood. 



Cabinet-work, veneers; formerly ship-building. 



Weight of Seasoned Wood in Pounds per Cubic Foot. 



45- 

 Modulus of Elasticity. 



1,510,000. 

 Modulus of Rupture. 



14,000. 



Remarks. 



Desirability varies with locality. Spanish mahogany ranks first, 

 and harder Mexican woods next. Mahogany is usually 

 stained. African mahogany is now successfully rivaling the 

 American product. 



