UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 1050 
Contribution from the Forest Service 
WILLIAM B. GREELEY, Forester 
Washington, D. C. 
May 12, 1922 
THE IDENTIFICATION OF TRUE MAHOGANY, 
CERTAIN SO-CALLED MAHOGANIES, AND 
SOME COMMON SUBSTITUTES. 
By Akthub Koehler, Specialist in Wood Structure. 
CONTENTS. 
Page 
" Mahoganies " 1 
Key for the identification of true 
mahogany and mahogany-like 
woods 2 
Description of species — 
True mahogany 4 
Crabwood 6 
Cedrela 7 
Sapeli 8 
Page. 
Description of species — Continued. 
" African mahogany " 9 
" Philippine mahogany " 10 
"Colombian mahogany" 12 
" Liber ville mahogany " 13 
Birch 14 
Red gum 15 
" White mahogany " 16 
Glossary 16 
" MAHOGANIES." 
Over sixty different species of timber have at one time or another 
been put on the market under the name of mahogany. Some of these 
are closely related botanically to true mahogany and others look much 
like it, while some have only the most general resemblance, and no 
relationship which under the most liberal interpretation would en- 
title them to the name. 
The woods now most commonly sold as mahogany in this country 
are true mahogany from tropical America, "African mahogany," and 
"Philippine mahogany." The Cedrelas (Spanish cedar, etc.) are 
rarely sold as mahoganies, while crab wood, sapeli, " Colombian ma- 
hogany," and " Liberville mahogany " are imported only in small 
quantities. They are, however, described in this bulletin because of 
their resemblance to true mahogany. A description of " white ma- 
hogany " is also included, for though it has no reddish-brown color 
and so is not confused with true mahogany by anyone who has seen 
a few pieces, the name might lead one unfamiliar with it to assume 
that it is true mahogany of a light color 
79793°— 22 1 
Birch and red gum are 
