IDENTIFICATION OF TRUE MAHOGANY. 3 



I. Wood light to dark reddish brown — Continued. 



A. Many pores contain, etc. — Continued. 



1. Growth rings, etc. — Continued. 



BB. Wood with characteristic odor of cigar-box cedar. 

 Growth rings defined by distinct lighter-colored lines 

 and usually, but not always, by rows of larger pores, 

 approaching ring-porous structure as in ash, oak, hick- 

 ory, and some other hardwoods. Wood light and soft. 



Spanish cedar {Cedrela odorata). 



Brazilian cedar ( Cedrela, brasiliensis ) . 



Toon ( Cedrela toona ) . 



(Odor most pronounced in Spanish cedar.) 



2. Growth rings not clearly defined by lighter colored lines or 



otherwise. 



AA. Numerous tangential lines of soft tissue either lighter 

 or darker colored than the adjacent fibers and readily 

 visible without a lens — 40 to 50 per inch of radius. 

 Rays usually not in stories and white substance not 

 found in pores. Wood moderately heavy. 

 Sapeli (Entandrophragma candoUei) . 



BB. Tangential lines of soft tissue either not present or 

 very rarely an occasional one; however, darker or 

 lighter colored zones without definite boundary, as 

 seen under a hand lens, may be present. Color same 

 as true mahogany, or quite often with a slight pur- 

 plish tinge when freshly cut. Rays not in stories, or 

 only locally, and white substance not found in pores 

 as in some true mahogany. Wood moderately heavy. 

 "African mahogany" (Khaya s]pp.). 



B. Pores do not contain a reddish gum. 



1. Pores readily visible without a lens on smoothly cut surfaces. 

 AA. Occasional short or long white tangential lines present, 

 from Ys inch to several inches apart radially, visible 

 without a lens. When viewed with a magnifying 

 glass these lines appear to be made up of a row of 

 small ducts, much smaller than the pores, and com- 

 pletely filled with a white substance. Considerable 

 variation in color. Weight variable, about the same 

 as mahogany. 



"Philippine mahogany" {Shorea spp.). 



a. Color moderately light to dark reddish brown, with 

 purplish tinge. Pores comparatively small but vis- 

 ible without a lens. Pinworm holes rare. 



Tanguile (Shorea polysperma) . 



6. Color dark reddish brown without purplish tinge. 

 Pores slightly larger than in tanguile. Pinworm 

 holes common. 



Red lauaan {Shorea negrosensis) . 



c. Color very pale reddish brown without purplish tinge. 

 Pores slightly larger than in tanguile. Pinworm 

 holes rare.^ 

 Almon (Shorea eximia). 



* On account of variations in the structure and color of tanguile, red lauaan, and almon, 

 it is not always possible to distinguish the wood of these species by means of the char- 

 acteristics given in this key, which is based on typical features. 



