Swietenia 2694386 209851860 2008-05-03T05:41:43Z Parkjunwung 5125151 /* References */ {{Taxobox | name = ''Swietenia'' | image = swietenia sp.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = ''Swietenia'' sp., probably ''Swietenia macrophylla'', planted in Hawaii | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Sapindales]] | familia = [[Meliaceae]] | genus = ''Swietenia'' | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. }} '''''Swietenia''''' is a genus of trees in the [[mahogany]] family [[Meliaceae]]. It occurs in the [[Neotropics]], from southern [[Florida]], the [[Caribbean]], [[Mexico]] and [[Central America]] south to [[Bolivia]]. It is usually taken to consist of three species, geographically separated. They are medium-sized to large trees growing to 20-45 m tall, and up to 2 m trunk diameter. The [[leaf|leaves]] are 10-30 cm long, pinnate, with 3-6 pairs of leaflets, the terminal leaflet absent; each leaflet is 5-15 cm long. The leaves are [[deciduous]] to semi-[[evergreen]], falling shortly before the new foliage grows. The [[flower]]s are produced in loose [[inflorescences]], each flower small, with five white to greenish-yellowish petals. The [[fruit]] is a pear-shaped five-valved capsule 8-20 cm long, containing numerous winged seeds about 5-9 cm long. The three species are poorly defined biologically, in part because they [[Hybrid (biology)|hybridize]] freely when grown in proximity. ;Species *''[[Swietenia humilis]]'' - '''Pacific Coast Mahogany'''. Pacific coast of Central America and Mexico. *''[[Swietenia macrophylla]]'' - '''Honduras Mahogany'''. Atlantic coast of Central America, South America south to Bolivia. *''[[Swietenia mahagoni]]'' - '''West Indian Mahogany'''. Southern Florida, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola. ===Uses=== [[Image:Swietenia mahagoni Ypey9.jpg|thumb|left|19th century illustration]] The genus is famed as the supplier of mahogany, at first yielded by ''Swietenia mahagoni'', a Caribbean species, which was so extensively used locally and exported that its trade ended by the 1950s. These days almost all mahogany is yielded by the mainland species, ''Swietenia macrophylla''. ''[[Swietenia mahagoni]]'' is widely cultivated as an [[ornamental tree]] in its native range and in southern Florida, and similarly ''S. macrophylla'' in [[Hawaii]] and in other countries. The fruits of ''Swietenia macrophylla'' are called "sky fruit", because they seem to hang upwards from the tree. The "sky fruit" concentrate is sold as a natural remedy that is said to improve blood circulation and skin. It is also said to have [[Viagra]]-like qualities regarding erectile dysfunction. Consumption of the sky fruit concentrate is approved by Malaysia Ministry of Health.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} A somewhat comparable wood is yielded by the related African genus ''[[Khaya]]''. This is traded as '''African mahogany'''. ===CITES=== All species of ''Swietenia'' are [[CITES]]-listed. ''Swietenia'' timber that crosses a border needs its paperwork in order. International environmental organizations such as [[Greenpeace]], [[Friends of the Earth]], and [[Rainforest Action Network]] have focused on ''Swietenia'' so as to expose illegal traffic in the wood, notably from Brazil. ==References== *[http://www.dfsc.dk/pdf/Seedleaflets/Swietenia%20humilis_int.pdf DANIDA factsheet: ''Swietenia humilis'' (pdf file)] *[http://www.dfsc.dk/pdf/Seedleaflets/Swietenia%20macrophylla_int.pdf DANIDA factsheet: ''Swietenia macrophylla'' (pdf file)] *[http://www.dfsc.dk/pdf/Seedleaflets/Swietenia%20mahagoni_int.pdf DANIDA factsheet: ''Swietenia mahagoni'' (pdf file)] *[http://www.floridata.com/ref/S/swie_mah.cfm Floridata factsheet: ''Swietenia mahagoni''] *[http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/adc/downloads/capitulos_especies_y_anexos/swietenia_humilis.pdf Árboles de Centroamérica: Swietenia humilis (pdf Spanish)] *[http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/adc/downloads/capitulos_especies_y_anexos/swietenia_macrophylla.pdf Árboles de Centroamérica: Swietenia macrophylla (pdf Spanish)] {{Commons|Swietenia}} [[Category:Sapindales]] [[da:Mahogni (Swietenia)]] [[de:Swietenia]] [[es:Swietenia]] [[fr:Swietenia]] [[vi:Chi Dái ngựa]] [[qu:Mara]]