Swietenia mahagoni

West Indian mahogany

Mahogany. Certain names seem to represent objects or people extremely well, and I believe this is one of them. The name itself sounds best when whispered, is strong yet sensually smooth, and has an air of sophistication and luxury. The wood of this tree is one of the finest in furniture and cabinetry and it has more than looks going for it. It is very strong and able to resist insect damage and decay, yet it is also quite workable. These qualities made it an ideal wood for use in shipbuilding, for which it was harvested extensively in the Caribbean beginning near the start of the 16^th century. Since having a strong navy was essential to military/colonial success at the time and since Spain had limited sources of good timber for shipbuilding on its own land, it relied heavily upon imports from its recently acquired West Indian colonies. It’s quite a sight to see an antique 20’ Chris Craft made out of mahogany, but to imagine that some of Spain’s largest warships were made out of this wood is truly incredible, even though they probably weren’t polished to the same lustrous shine. No, these boats were more beast than beauty; the wood was so strong that it could withstand cannonball shots from other ships without splintering. One mahogany Spanish warship captured by British forces in 1780 was carefully broken up 55 years later into pieces used to furnish tables to members of the British navy. Mahogany continued to be used in ships during World War II, especially in PT (Patrol Torpedo) boats, including John F. Kennedy’s PT-109, which you can read more about in the coconut palm’s profile.

While much of the mahogany imported from the Caribbean was used for shipbuilding, a good amount was also used for furniture, cabinetry and interior finishing. Due to extensive harvesting for those purposes, mahogany was brought to the brink of extinction and is currently classified as an endangered species, and trees are now protected in their native range. Navigators in the Florida Keys as early as the latter half of the 18^th century reported that few mahoganies remained on the islands. Plantations provide for current demand.

West Indian Mahogany is also a medicinal plant throughout its native range. The astringent properties of the bark make it a good remedy for diarrhea, which is a common ailment throughout its native range. The bark also contains vitamins and iron and is made into a tea to restore strength after bouts with tuberculosis. Chemical compounds called catechins have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and can be found in mahogany wood. You won’t find many mahogany wood teas, however, because these compounds can also be found in red wine and green tea and most folks are more than happy to have a good reason to enjoy more vino.

Mahogany doesn't grow much farther north than the Florida Keys, where it is quite at home in the soil, sun, and wind, although you might want to consider trimming them back a bit if you have trees adjacent to your home since they can grow up to 75 ft. tall - a large branch falling from a tree like that would do serious damage to a roof.