2 BULLETIN 1050, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
used principally as acknowledged imitations of mahogany, but some- 
times they are used in furniture sold as genuine mahogany. 
Of the woods mentioned in this bulletin, true mahogany, crabwood, 
the Cedrelas, sapeli, and "African mahogany " come from trees which 
are botanically of the mahogany family (Meliacese). They are uni- 
formly distinguished from other woods herein described by the occur- 
rence of a dark reddish-brown gum in the pores. This gum does not 
completely fill the pores, but occurs as almost black masses here and 
there. It is seen best with a magnifying glass on longitudinal sur- 
faces, but in many specimens is visible without a lens. Of course, 
woods of other families may have dark gum in the pores, but none 
such are commonly substituted for mahogany. 1 
Key foe the Identification of True Mahogany and Mahoganylike Woods. 2 
(Also read carefully the descriptions of these species in the following pages 
and study the illustrations.) 
I. Wood light to dark reddish brown. 
A. Many pores contain more or less of a very dark reddish brown 
gum visible on longitudinal and end surfaces. Otherwise the 
pores are open, no tyloses being present. The gum is visible 
without, but better with a hand lens. 
1. Growth rings sharply but not always conspicuously defined. 
AA. Wood without characteristic odor. Growth rings de- 
fined by distinct but not always conspicuous lines of 
soft tissue ?h to V>2 inch apart. Pores in each growth 
ring almost uniform in size. 
a. Lines of soft tissue light-colored and conspicuous. 
Rays on a freshly cut or split radial surface not 
much darker than adjacent fibers. Tangential sur- 
face occasionally but not always figured with very 
fine bands which run across the grain, due to the 
rays being in stories. Wood highly variable in 
weight and light to dark reddish brown in color. 
True mahogany (Sicietenia spp.). 
b. Lines of soft tissue mostly dark, not conspicuous. 
Rays on a freshly cut or split radial surface consid- 
erably darker and more reddish than adjacent 
fibers and usually with a slight purplish tinge. 
Rays not in stories. Wood moderately hard. Color 
more of a plain brown than in true mahogany. 
Crabwood {Carapa guianeiisis) . 
1 To one familiar with the examination of wood sections under a high-power microscope, 
the exceedingly fine pits (as small as in birch) between adjacent vessels and also the 
septate wood fibers found in Sicietenia, Carapa, Entandrophragma, and Kliaya offer an 
additional means of distinguishing these members of the mahogany family from others 
not of the same family. In Cedrela the pits are larger, but also very numerous, and the 
wood fibers are sparingly septate. Boswellia (family Burseracese) also has septate wood 
fibers, but the pits in the vessel walls are comparatively large. 
2 Unless otherwise directed all observations as to structure should be made on the end 
surface cut smoothly with a verv sharp knife, and all observations as to color should 
be made on freshly cut longitudinal surfaces of the heartwood. 
