Swietenia

Swietenia is a kind of Arbre commonly called “Acajou” originating in Central America (Southern of the Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, until the South of the Bolivia).

The kind owes its name with Gerald van Swieten, a Médecin Dutch.

Description

They are trees of intermediate size to large (20 to 45 m in height and trunk which can measure 2m diameter).

The Feuille S from 10 to 30 cm length are Caduque S with semi-persistentes, falling right before the growth from the new sheets.

The white Fleur S push in Inflorescence S.

The Fruit is a capsule in form of Poire measuring 8 to 20 cm length and container of the winged Graine S from 5 to 9 cm length.

Species

  • Swietenia humilis - Mahogany tree of the peaceful coast.
  • Swietenia macrophylla King - Mahogany tree of the Honduras or Mahogany tree with large sheets, largely cultivated like Tree ornamental to Hawaii.
  • Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq., largely cultivated like Tree ornamental in the South of Florida.

These three species are badly defined from a biological point of view because they Hybride NT easily.

Use

The kind is well-known under the name of “Mahogany tree” which, in the beginning, came from the Swietenia mahagoni , a species of the Caribbean which almost disappeared today in the form of tree and survives mainly like shrub. Today, the majority of what is called Acajou comes from the Swietenia macrophylla .

There exists a comparable Bois kind Khaya , sold under the name of “African Mahogany tree”.

The fruits of Swietenia macrophylla are called Sky fruit (fruits of the sky), because they point towards the sky. The extract of Sky fruit concentrated is sold like supposed natural product to improve blood circulation, the quality of the skin and the problems of erection.

QUOTE

All the species of Swietenia appear on the list of the species in danger of the QUOTE since 2002. The transport of wood of Swietenia is normally regulated but these regulations are not applied. Governmental organizations such as Greenpeace, the Friends of the Earth, WWF and Rainforest Action Network focused their actions on the Swietenia to show the existence of an illegal wood traffic, particularly since the Brésil.

External bonds

  • DANIDA factsheet: ''Swietenia humilis''
  • DANIDA factsheet: ''Swietenia macrophylla''
  • DANIDA factsheet: '' Swietenia mahagoni '')
  • Floridata factsheet: '' Swietenia mahagoni ''
  • '' Árboles de Centroamérica: Swietenia humilis ''
  • '' Árboles de Centroamérica: Swietenia macrophylla''

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