Hierarchy classification:

1. top of the aat hierarchies
2. Materials Facet
3. Materials (hierarchy name)
4. materials (substances)
5. [materials by origin]
6. biological material
7. plant material
8. [wood and wood by product]
9. wood (plant material)
10. [wood by composition or origin]
11. hardwood

Narrower term/s

• African mahogany (wood)
• South American mahogany (wood)
• crotch mahogany
• West Indies mahogany (wood)
• Paraguayan cedar (wood)
• Spanish cedar (wood)
• toon (wood)
• acajou moucheté
• Chinese cedar (wood)
• fiddle-back mahogany
• baywood

Anotations

Scope note:

Refers to the wood of trees of the genus Swietenia, found in tropical climates, primarily in Mexico, Cuba, Central America, and the West Indies. It varies in color from yellow to a rich red brown, and is valued in furniture-making and sculpture-carving because it is hard, fine-grained, and takes a high polish. Mahogany has a fine, straight grain that takes a high polish. It is dimensionally stable and does not shrink, warp, or swell. The durable, dark reddish-brown wood was imported to Europe in the 18th century where it became popular for furniture, paneling and veneer. Ammonia brings out a rich, red color in mahogany wood. Mahogany is frequently attacked by pinhole borer beetles. Many woods of similar colors have also been called mahoganies, but usually do not have rich color or fine cutting characteristics of the true mahogany wood. However, the related African genus Khaya produces a similar wood. Mahogany was used by Chippendale, Hepplewhite, and the Adam brothers for high quality furniture.