mahogany
Quick Summary
Mahogany refers to several tropical hardwood timber trees, primarily from the Meliaceae family. The most well-known is Swietenia mahagoni, native to tropical America, which yields hard, reddish-brown wood highly valued for furniture and paneling. Other significant sources include African species like Khaya and Entandophragma, as well as Philippine mahogany (Shorea species). These timbers are typically reddish, lustrous, easy to work, and resistant to warping, making them ideal for cabinetmaking. It is important to note that mountain mahogany, a genus of North American shrubs or small trees, is unrelated to true mahogany.123
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