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African Mahogany
African Mahogany is an exotic wood with a deep reddish brown color. The grain can be straight, but is typically interlocking. Working this wood is generally easy but tearing can occur when planing. It often has a shimmering figure. African Mahogany is popular for furniture, cabinetry, joinery, boat building and veneers.
- Common Name(s): African Mahogany
- Scientific Name: Khaya spp. (primarily K. anthotheca and K. ivorensis)
- Distribution: Tropical Africa
- Tree Size: 100-200 ft (30-60 m) tall, 3-6 ft (1-1.8 m) trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 33.9 lbs/ft³ (545 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 850 lbf (3,800 N)
- Crushing Strength: 6,570 lbf/in² (45.3 MPa)
Heartwood: Pale pink to a deeper reddish brown, sometimes with streaks of medium to dark reddish brown. Colors darken with age.
Sapwood: Pale yellowish-white, clearly demarcated from heartwood.
Grain: Straight to interlocked with a medium to coarse texture.
Texture: Good natural luster and a high degree of chatoyancy.
Rated as moderately durable; moderate to poor insect/borer resistance.
Generally easy to work, though tearout can be a problem if the grain is interlocked. May stain and react with iron-based fasteners in damp conditions. Glues, turns, and finishes well.
- Furniture
- Veneer
- Boatbuilding
- Interior trim
- Plywood
- Turned items
There are currently five accepted Khaya species, four of which are harvested and sold as African Mahogany. The fifth species, K. madagascariensis, is native to Comoros and northern Madagascar and yields mahogany-like wood but isn’t commonly exported. African Mahogany is considered a valid substitute for Honduran Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), though it sometimes lacks the deeper reddish-brown color and durability common in true mahogany of the Swietenia genus.
Note: African Mahogany is listed in CITES Appendix II under the genus-wide restriction of all Khaya species from Africa. Additionally, all the primary Khaya species of African Mahogany are on the IUCN Red List, each listed as vulnerable due to a population reduction of over 20% in the past three generations caused by a decline in its natural range and exploitation.