Biology
provided by Arkive
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).
Conservation
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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).
Description
provided by Arkive
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).
Habitat
provided by Arkive
The white mahogany grows in evergreen forest and forest fringing rivers, at altitudes between 120 and 1,525 metres (2) (4).
Range
provided by Arkive
Occurs from Sierra Leone eastwards to Uganda and Tanzania, and southwards to Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe (4).
Status
provided by Arkive
Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Threats
provided by Arkive
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).
Description
provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Large to very large evergreen tree with a long straight stem. Bark fairly smooth but flaking; large trees often buttressed. Leaves spirally arranged, paripinnate with 2-7 pairs of leaflets; leaflets oblong-elliptic, up to 17 cm long, glossy green above, paler below, glabrous, apex abruptly tapering in to a short point, base slightly asymmetric; margin entire. Flowers in axillary branched heads, white, c. 1 cm in diameter, sweetly scented. Fruit ovoid, woody, 3 - 5 cm in diameter, splitting into 4-5 valves, pale brown. Seeds winged.
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- Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
- bibliographic citation
- Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Khaya anthotheca (Welw.) C. DC. Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=133440
- author
- Mark Hyde
- author
- Bart Wursten
- author
- Petra Ballings
Frequency
provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Locally common
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- cc-by-nc
- copyright
- Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
- bibliographic citation
- Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Khaya anthotheca (Welw.) C. DC. Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=133440
- author
- Mark Hyde
- author
- Bart Wursten
- author
- Petra Ballings
Worldwide distribution
provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
- license
- cc-by-nc
- copyright
- Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
- bibliographic citation
- Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Khaya anthotheca (Welw.) C. DC. Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=133440
- author
- Mark Hyde
- author
- Bart Wursten
- author
- Petra Ballings
Khaya anthotheca
provided by wikipedia EN
Khaya anthotheca, with the common name East African mahogany, is a large tree species in the Meliaceae family, native to tropical Africa.
The name anthotheca was taken from the Greek word anthos, meaning flower, while theca refers to a capsule. It is known by a number of other common names, including Nyasaland, red or white mahogany. Oos-Afrikaanse mahonie is the Afrikaans name and acajou is its name in French.
Distribution
It is widespread, occurring from Guinea Bissau east to Uganda and Tanzania, and south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is fairly widely grown in plantations within its natural area of distribution, but also in South Africa, tropical Asia and tropical America. It is easily confused with other Khaya species like K. grandifoliola, K. senegalensis or K. ivorensis in the north of its natural range.
Habitat
The East African mahogany grows in medium to low altitude areas in evergreen forests. They require damp lands in order to grow. The Big Tree in Chirinda Forest is the tallest native tree in Zimbabwe.
Description
Khaya anthotheca trees may grow between 30 and 60 metres (98 and 197 ft) tall. They have greyish-brown bark.
On mature trees, white scented flowers are borne at the ends of the branches.
Common uses
It is used for furniture, flooring, paneling and boat building and for musical instrument (e.g. guitar). It is a very suitable tree for these projects because the bark weathers well, is resistant to borers and termites, besides fungal decay, and is tough but saws well. The bark has a bitter taste which is often used as a medicine for common colds. The oil from the seeds can also be rubbed into a person's scalp to rid of insects and lice.
Threats
It is often cut down and destroyed in East and West Africa. Planting new trees in these areas to make up for what was destroyed is very rare. Genetic erosion is thought to have occurred as well. Because of this, the species is listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List. Some of its populations have been offered protection, and some countries placed bans on its export. The foliage is eaten by the larvae of the moth Heteronygmia dissimilis.[3]
References
- Alec Naidoo Pretoria. National Botanical Garden. September 2007. [1] Downloaded October 17, 2012.
- Forestry Department. [2] Downloaded October 18, 2012.
- Mpingo Conservation and Development Initiative. [3] Archived 2008-11-19 at the Wayback Machine Downloaded October 20, 2012.
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Khaya anthotheca: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Khaya anthotheca, with the common name East African mahogany, is a large tree species in the Meliaceae family, native to tropical Africa.
The name anthotheca was taken from the Greek word anthos, meaning flower, while theca refers to a capsule. It is known by a number of other common names, including Nyasaland, red or white mahogany. Oos-Afrikaanse mahonie is the Afrikaans name and acajou is its name in French.
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- Wikipedia authors and editors
