How To Plant Mahogany Trees

Types are related: The genus consists of two genera, S. mahagony and S. humilis. Three other species have not been defined biologically, because it crossed each other freely.
Distribution and habitatThe kind that grows in humid zones; widespread natural or cultivated; native species of Mexico (Yucatan), the middle and northern South America (Amazon Region). Planting is widely especially in southern Asia and the Pacific, also introduced in West Africa.
UtilizationMahogany wood furniture includes high-value materials for decorative and easy to do. Widely planted in tropical regions in reforestation and afforestation programs. In agroforestry systems are used as shade plants and firewood.
Painting a treeEvergreen tree with a height between 30-35 cm. The skin is gray and smooth when young, turning into dark brown, bubbling and peeling after the elderly. Bertandan and pinnate leaf whose length ranges from 35-50 cm long, arranged alternately, smooth pairs, 4-6 pairs of each leaf, length range 9-18 cm. Flowers small, white, long 10-20 cm, branched panicle.
Fruit and seedFruit: dried fissure, generally shaped capsule bercuping 5, hard, long, 12-15 (-22) cm, gray-brown, smooth or. The outside of the fruit hardens, the thickness of 5-7 mm in thinner sections. The middle hardens like wood, shaped column with 5 angles which extends towards the tip. Fruit will break from the tip or base when ripe and dry. Seeds attached to the kolumela through the wings, leaving the real after seed regardless. Generally, every fruit there were 35 -45 seeds.
Seed: brown, solid oval, elongated complementary to the top of the wing, 7.5-15 cm long reach with extensive water spaces. Seeds spread by wind. 1800-2500 the number of seeds per kg.
Flowering and fruitingFlowers unisexual and monoecious tree. Pollination by insects. Hybridization often occurs, especially with S. mahagoni when these species grow together. Usually only one flower into a fruit, the others fall. Interest until the ripe fruit formation takes 9-12 months. The period of flowering and fruit occur every year from age 10-15 years but decreased the formation of fruit will be reduced if the pollinators. A long time in the formation of fruit makes it possible to assess the results of each month prior toDirectorate of Forest Tree Seedpolling results. Flowering usually occurs when the trees shed leaves or when the new leaves begin to appear just before before the rainy season.Summary data penologi in several countries, among others:North & Central America - Season of interest: April to June, - the fruit Season: January to MarchSouth America - Season of interest: September-October, - the fruit season: July-AugustBritish Virgin Is. & Puerto Rico - Season of interest: May to June, - the fruit season: September to OctoberCosta Rica - flower season: March-Apri, - the fruit season: December to JanuarySolomon Islands - Season of interest: June to September, - the fruit season: -Philippines - Season rate: from March to June, - the fruit season: December to MarchIndonesia - flower season: September-October, - the fruit Season: June-August
Harvest of fruitBetter fruit picked straight from the tree before it broke or seeds collected from under the stands shortly after a fall. Seed production varies place to grow and age. Pentingl factor in the efficiency of pollination for seed production is erratic, especially outside the natural distribution. Mature trees of S. macrophylla can produce about 200 pieces cook more per year or approximately 4-8 kg of seed. But generally the production of only 2.5 - 4 kg seeds per tree for trees that editorial is quite open.
Processing, fruit and seed handlersDried fruit is ripe and the seed collected from the forest floor can be kept several days in a sack without causing damage. But to reduce the weight better when processed in the field. Dried fruit will be broke after 1-4 days, depending on maturity, after which the seeds can be separated by shaking or scratching fruit. Other fruit parts can be separated by hand. Furthermore done cutting the wings when needed.
Storage and viabilitySeeds including orthodox and if stored in water content 3-7% at low temperatures (1-5   C) viability will remain high and can last several years. When seeds are stored in paper bags at room temperature, viability can be maintained for 7-8 months. The water content of ripe seeds are 9-12%. Percentage germination of fresh seeds 60-90%.
PretreatmentPretreatment is not so important, but the germination of seeds of low water levels can be improved by soaking in water for 12 hours.
Sowing and germinationFor testing, seed dikecambahkan in sand media with a temperature range of 35-30  C orfixed temperature 30  C for 12/12 or 8 / 16 hour light / dark. Seed sown in the nursery in an open sandbox deep 3-7 cm or directly sown in containers. Seeds germinate in moist media in the shade. Seeds will germinate in 10-21 days. Seedlings kept in the shade until planted in the field after the high reached 50 - 100 cm.

BibliographyAlvenga, S., Flores, E.M. (1988): Morfologia germinacion y de la semilla de caoba, Swietenia macrophylla King. (Meliaceae). Revista de Biologia Tropical, 36: 2A, 261-267. Universidad de Costa Rica.Cottle, G.W. 1959: Mahogany - a Valuable tree for Farmers. Fiji Agricultural Journal, 29: 19-20.Gullison RE, Panfil SN, Strouse JJ, Hubbell SP, 1996. Ecology and management of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) in the Chimanes Forest, Beni, Bolivia. Bot. J. of the Linnean Society. 122: 9-34.Lyhr, K. P., 1992. Mahogany - Silviculture and Use of American Mahogany (Swietenia spp.). The RoyalVeterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen.Nataniela V, Singh K, Lal S, 1997. Seed production of Swietenia macrophylla (Large-leaved Mahogany) in Fiji. Pacific Islands Forests & Trees 4 / 97: 7-11.
Pennington, T. D., 1981. Meliaceae, Flora Neotropica, 28. New York Botanical Garden.Soerianegara I, Lemmens, RHMJ, eds., 1993.Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 5 (1). Timbertrees: major commercial Timbers. Wageningen, Netherlands: Pudoc Scientific Publishers.