Swietenia macrophylla
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Swietenia macrophylla | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leaves in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Meliaceae |
| Genus: | Swietenia |
| Species: | S. macrophylla |
| Binomial name | |
| Swietenia macrophylla King | |
- Common names
- Big Leaf Mahogany, Big-leaf Mahogany, Bigleaf Mahogany, Brazilian Mahogany, Honduras Mahogany, Large-leaved Mahogany, genuine mahogany, Sky Fruit, Tropical American Mahogany
Natively it is found in Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela.
Since the restrictions in logging this tree in its native habitats, it has been introduced into several Asian countries in plantation environments. The mahogany timber grown in these Asian plantations is the major source of international trade in genuine mahogany today. Unlike mahogany sourced from its native locations, plantation mahogany grown in Asia is not restricted in trade. Major Asian countries which grow swietenia macrophylla are India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Fiji, Philippines and some others with India and Fiji being the major world suppliers.
Invasive Species
Swietenia macrophylla can become an invasive species when introduced into tropical countries where it is not native. The trees have no natural enemies in their new habitats and grow very rapidly. Seeds sprout in high numbers and tolerate more diverse light conditions than natives, giving rise to dense stands of mahogany trees where no other vegetation can grow, causing severe ecological disruption. It is an invasive species in the Philippines.[1] In Sri Lanka it is an invasive tree in the Udawattakele Forest Reserve in Kandy where it is spreading gradually, although not as rapidly and invasively as the Peru Balsam tree, Myroxylon balsamum.
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 Fruit with leaves at Branch Canopy in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Hibiscus tiliaceusFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[edit] DescriptionH. tiliaceus reaches a height of 4–10 m (13–33 ft), with a trunk up to 15 cm (5.9 in) in diameter.[3] The flowers of H. tiliaceus are bright yellow with a deep red centre upon opening. Over the course of the day, the flowers deepen to orange and finally red before they fall. The branches of the tree often curve over time.[edit] Range and habitatH. tiliaceus is a common coastal plant in Eastern and Northern Australia, Oceania and Southeast Asia. It has become naturalized in parts of the New World, such as Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.[3] It is uncertain if the species is native to Hawaii, as it may have been introduced by the Polynesians.[4] H. tiliaceus can be found at elevations from sea level to 800 m (2,600 ft) in areas that receive 900–2,500 mm (35–98 in) of annual rainfall. It is commonly found growing on beaches, by rivers and in mangrove swamps. Sea Hibiscus is well adapted to grow in coastal environment in that it tolerates salt and waterlogging and can grow in quartz sand, coral sand, marl, limestone,[5] and crushed basalt.[6] It grows best in slightly acidic to alkaline soils (pH of 5-8.5). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
