Khaya senegalensis is a tree of the Meliaceae family native to
tropical and savannah Africa.
It is commonly
known as African mahogany, Gambia mahogany, and Senegal mahogany. The timber of Khaya is called African mahogany, the only timber widely accepted
as mahogany besides the true mahogany ( Swietenia
mahogany ).
The leaves are
pinnate. Flowers are small, yellowish, loose
inflorescences, 4-petals. Fruit is a
capsule with 4 globose, dehiscent. Seeds
winged.
Khaya senegalensis is a fast growing tree, capable to grow up
to 30 meters in height within years. The
wood is harvested for carpentry, construction, dugout canoes, etc. the bitter tasting bark is used as folk
medicine for fever, stomach aches, headaches etc.
Although K. senegalensis is widely planted for
commercial and landscaping, it is still considered a vulnerable species in the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
flower, yellowish in loose inflorescence
fruit capsule, dehiscent while attached to tree
fruit capsules, dehiscent showing winged seeds inside
winged seeds
