Broad leafed Mahogany (HT 2003 120)

Reference ID
HT 2003-120

Scientific name: Swietenia macrophylla
Family name: Meliaceae
Girth: 5.16 m @ 1.3 m height
Height: 19.7 m

Location
Sentosa, near Madame Tussands
Singapore forecourt

The Broad-leafed Mahogany is a large tree that can grow up to 40 m with a dense crown. It bears compound leaves that are glossy and dark green with asymmetric leaflets that are crescent-shaped. Being semi-deciduous in nature, it can lose its leaves during pronounced dry spells but young new leaves quickly open before the old leaves are completely shed. The broad and buttressed trunk has uneven, fissured dark grey bark.

Its flowers are lightly fragrant, pale yellow to greenish in colour and occur in large bunches. The fruit is a distinctive, brown, large and heavy woody pod held upright on its stalk, splitting into five segments to release numerous flat single-winged seeds when mature.

The Broad-leafed Mahogany is a native of Tropical America; it was introduced to Malesia region, which includes Singapore, in 1876 from Honduras. Its timber is valued highly for making furniture, panelling and musical instruments.

For more information on this species, please refer to NParks' Flora & Fauna Web profile here.

Gallery

📷: Brendon Phuah

Map of Heritage Trees in the area