Saturday 18 May
White mahogany (Khaya anthotheca)
VULNERABLEWhite mahogany fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
White mahogany description
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Sapindales |
| Family | Meliaceae |
| Genus | Khaya (1) |
This large evergreen tree has smooth, grey to brown bark, which flakes off in round scales on the older branches and stems (2) (3). The base of the trunk is markedly flared, but the rest of the trunk is very straight and reaches considerable heights before branching to form the crown (2). Each large leaf is composed of two to seven pairs of leaflets, each leaflet measuring seventeen by seven centimetres (2). The hairless leaflets are dark glossy green on the upper surface and pale green on the underside (2). The sweetly scented flowers of the white mahogany are white, measure ten millimetres across and occur in large, many-branched clusters at the tips of branches (2) (3). The fruit is an egg-shaped woody capsule, creamy-brown in colour and measuring three to five centimetres in diameter. This capsule splits into four or five valves to reveal winged seeds (2).
- Also known as
- African mahogany.
- French
- Acajou Blanc, Acajou D'Afrique.
- Size
- Height: 60 m (2)
- Genetic diversity
- The variety of genes within a particular species, population or breed causing differences in morphology, physiology and behaviour.
- IUCN Red List (September, 2007)
http://www.iucnredlist.org - Palgrave, K.C. (2002) Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.
- PlantZAfrica (June, 2008)
http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/khayaantho.htm - Styles, B.T. and White, F. (1991) Flora of Tropical East Africa: Meliaceae. A.A.Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
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Related species
White mahogany biology
The small, white blooms of the white mahogany appear between September and December. The male and female flowers are separate, but occur on the same tree. Fruiting takes place between March and July (2).
TopWhite mahogany range
Occurs from Sierra Leone eastwards to Uganda and Tanzania, and southwards to Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe (4).
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Species with a similar range
White mahogany habitat
The white mahogany grows in evergreen forest and forest fringing rivers, at altitudes between 120 and 1,525 metres (2) (4).
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Species found in a similar habitat
White mahogany status
Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).
White mahogany threats
This important source of timber has been heavily exploited, particularly in East and West Africa (1). Its handsome and hard wood is said to be suitable for furniture and in some areas it is used to make canoes (2). Regeneration of white mahogany populations in certain areas is poor, and it is believed that genetic diversity has been lost (1).
TopWhite mahogany conservation
There are some conservation measures in place for this Vulnerable tree, with some populations being protected, as well as a limits or bans on log exports in certain countries (1).
TopAuthentication
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact: arkive@wildscreen.org.ukTopGlossary
References
More »Related species
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Image credit
White mahogony, Khaya anthotheca
© Ken Preston-Mafham / Premaphotos Wildlife
Premaphotos Wildlife
Amberstone
1 Kirland Road
Bodmin
Cornwall
PL30 5JQ
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1208 78 258
Fax: +44 (0) 1208 72 302
library@premaphotos.co.uk
http://www.premaphotos.com
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