Khaya


Khaya is a genus of five tree species in the mahogany family Meliaceae. The timber of Khaya is called African mahogany, and is valued as a substitute to American mahogany.

Description

The genus is native to tropical Africa across various countries from Senegal to Sudan to Uganda, as well as Madagascar. All species grow to around 13–30m tall, rarely 45m, with a trunk over 1m diameter, often buttressed at the base.
The leaves are pinnate, with 3-7 pairs of leaflets and the terminal leaflet absent; each leaflet is 8–17cm long and 7cm wide. The leaves can be either deciduous or evergreen depending on the species. The flowers are produced in loose inflorescences, each flower small, with four or five yellowish petals and ten stamens. The fruit is a globose four or five-valved capsule 5–8cm diameter, containing numerous winged seeds.

Species

  • Khaya anthotheca
  • Khaya grandifoliola
  • Khaya ivorensis
  • Khaya madagascariensis
  • ''Khaya senegalensis''

    Uses

The timber of Khaya is called "African mahogany", with wood properties generally regarded as the closest to genuine mahogany. The timber provides high chatoyance, with an average value above 20 PZC.
The seeds of K. senegalensis have an oil content of 52.5%, consisting of 21% palmitic acid, 10% stearic acid, 65% oleic acid, and 4% "unidentifiable acid"
The durable reddish-brown wood of K. anthotheca is used for dug-out canoes or makoros and as a general beam, door frame and shelving timber which is termite and borer resistant.