| | CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification and information retrieval |
Nomenclature. Family: MELIACEAE. Other trade relevant species: K. ivorensis, K. anthotheca, K. grandifoliola, K. nyasica, K senegalenis,. Further trade and local names: Benin mahogany, Lagos mahogany (NG); Dubini-, Axim-, Accra-, Tacoradi mahogany (GH); n'gollon, n'dola, Kap Lopez mahogany (GA); Grand Bassam mahogany (CI); undianunu (AO); acajou d'Afrique (FR); African mahogany (GB); Khaya (US); Douala mahonie (NL). Code according to DIN EN 13556: KHXX.
CITES(EU) status of protection. Listed in Annex II(B).
Similar timbers. Easily mistaken for Swietenia spp. (CITES II) and Entandrophragma angolense (Tiama).
Geographic distribution. Tropical Africa (Khaya anthotheca, K. grandifoliola, K. ivorensis, K. senegalensis), Madagascar & other islands (K. madagascariensis). K. ivorensis, K. grandifolila: tropical regions of Central and West Africa; K. anthotheca, K. nyasica: tropical regions from West to East Africa; K. senegalensis: subsaharan dry regions from Senegal to Sudan; K. madagascariensis: Madagascar.
Growth rings, colour, grain, etc. Growth ring boundaries indistinct or absent (however, occasionally indicated by tangential clustering of smaller vessels). Heartwood basically brown to red. Sapwood distinct from heartwood colour (creamy-white to yellowish, narrow). The heartwood darkens upon exposure to deep reddish-brown and the characteristic golden sheen found in True mahogany (Swietenia spp.) is less pronounced in Khaya. Odour indistinct or absent. Wood of medium weight (0,42–0,47–0,57 g/cm3), or heavy and hard (0,71–0,81–0,9 for K. senegalensis). Interlocked grain present (zones of variable width producing an attractive ribbon figure on quarter-sawn material).
Hardwood vs softwood. Vessels (pores) present (= hardwood).
Vessels (pores). Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels (pores) arranged in no specific pattern; in multiples; commonly in short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Vessels medium to large (110–160–245 µm); very few, or few (2–3–7). Tyloses absent. Other deposits in heartwood vessels (pores) present (dark reddish brown).
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma present (K. senegalensis), or not visible (other species); banded (K. senegalensis). Parenchyma bands exclusively marginal (or seemingly marginal); narrow. In Khaya wood, seemingly light-coloured tangential bands can be observed at irregular intervals on rough surfaces of the transverse section; these are not parenchyma bands, but tangential rows of small and closely packed vessels; macroscopically recognizable marginal bands are formed only in K. senegalensis.
Rays. Rays narrow. Large rays commonly less than 1 mm high.
Storied structure. Storied structure absent.
Resin canals. Normal resin canals absent (traumatic axial resin canals occasionally present).
Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood not fluorescent. Water extract not fluorescent; colour shade of water extract colourless to brown, or red. Heartwood extractives not leachable by water. Ethanol extract fluorescent (yellowish); colour shade of ethanol extract colourless to brown, or red. Froth test positive. Splinter burns to partial ash; colour of ash white to grey.
Additional information. See also: Informationsdienst Holz Merkblatt Nr. 39. • Transverse section + surface. Transverse section ca. 10x. radial surface, natural size. tangential surface, natural size.
The interactive key allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting specified attributes, summaries of attributes within groups of taxa, and geographical distribution.
Cite this publication as: ‘Richter, H.G., Gembruch, K., and Koch, G. 2014 onwards. CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. In English, French, German, and Spanish. Version: 4th April 2023. www.delta-intkey.com’.
