IDENTIFICATIOliT OF TBUE MAHOGAjSTY. 7 



The grain is straighter than in mahogany, but the wood is said to 

 check and warp more easily in seasoning ; however, the Forest Service 

 has no authentic information on its seasoning qualities. 



STRUCTURE. 



The pores are plainly visible on smoothly cut transverse and lon- 

 gitudinal surfaces. They are fairly uniform in size and evenly dis- 

 tributed, and in all respects closely similar to those of true mahogany, 

 but somewhat smaller than in "African mahogany." Hardened 

 masses of dark-brown gum are visible here and there in the pores. 

 These can best be seen with a hand lens on longitudinal surfaces. No 

 whitish deposits in the pores of this wood have been noticed by the 

 author, although Dixon ^ reports their occurrence. (See fig. 2.) 



The rays are very fine on cross-section, but quite conspicuous on 

 radial surfaces, owing to the fact that they contain reddish coloring 

 matter. (See fig. 13.) This reddish color of the rays is one of the 

 chief means of distinguishing crabwood from true mahogany, 

 although the rays in mahogany may appear darker if the light is re- 

 flected in a certain manner. All " Philippine mahogany " and occa- 

 sional pieces of "African mahogany " may also have reddish rays, but 

 can be distinguished from crabwood by other means. (See key.) 



The growth rings, which are very irregular in width, are faintly 

 defined by somewhat lighter ftdored lines of soft tissue similar to 

 but much less conspicuous than those in mahogany. 



CEDRELA. 



Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata L.) ; Brazilian Cedar (Cedrela hraziliensis 

 Juss.) ; Toon (Cedrela toona Roxb. or Toona ciliata Roem. or Toona toona 

 Wight). 



Mahogany Family (Meliace^). 



other names. 



Spanish cedar ^ is also commonly known as " cigar-box cedar." 

 Brazilian cedar ^ is known in South America as "cedro." 

 Toon has been marjjeted as " Indian mahogany " and " toona ma- 

 hogany." 



The Spanish and Brazilian cedars are rarely sold as mahogany, 

 but because of their resemblance to the light grades of true ma- 

 hogany their description is included here. 



8 Dixon, H. H., " Mahogany, and the Recognition of Some of the Different Kinds by 

 Their Microscopic Characteristics." Scientific Proceedings of the Royal Dublin Society, 

 Vol. XV (N. S.), No. 34, Dec, 1918. 



8 These species are not true cedars. They belong to the hardwood class, that is, trees 

 with broad leaves, bit were probably given the name of cedar because of the aromatic 

 odor of the wood. 



