Khaya

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids II
Ordo: Sapindales

Familia: Meliaceae
Subfamilia: Cedreloideae
Genus: Khaya
Species: K. anthotheca – K. grandifoliola – K. ivorensis – K. madagascariensis – K. senegalensis
Source(s) of checklist:

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Khaya in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 May 2. Reference page.

Name

Khaya A.Juss., Bull. Sci. Nat. Geol. 23: 238 (1830) [Nov 1830]
Synonyms

Homotypic
Khaya A.Juss., Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. 19: 249, t. 10 (1831–1832) [1830 publ. 1831–1832]; isonym.

References
Additional references

Jussieu, A.H.L. de 1830. Mémoire sur le groupe des Méliacées. Mémoires du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle 19: 153–304. BHL Reference page. : 249
Bouka Dipelet, U.G., Florence, J., Doumenge, C., Loumeto, J.J. & McKey, D. 2017. Khayae (Meliaceae) specierum Nomenclator. Adansonia, sér. 3, 39(1): 15–30. DOI: 10.5252/a2017n1a2 Paywall ResearchGate Reference page.

Links

Global Biodiversity Information Facility. 2019. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. Taxon: Khaya.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Khaya in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 May 2. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Khaya. Published online. Accessed: 2 May 2021.
Tropicos.org 2021. Khaya. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 May 2.

Vernacular names
suomi: Kaijamahongit

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 (of the genus Swietenia).[1]

Description

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The genus is native to tropical Africa and Madagascar. All species grow to around 30–35m tall, rarely 45m, with a trunk over 1m diameter, often buttressed at the base.

The leaves are pinnate, with 4-6 pairs of leaflets, the terminal leaflet absent; each leaflet is 10–15 cm long abruptly rounded toward the apex but often with an acuminate tip. 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 5–8 cm diameter, containing numerous winged seeds.
Species

Khaya anthotheca (syn. K. nyasica)
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.[2]

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"[3]

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.[4]
References

African Mahogany - The Wood Database
Mahogany Mixups: the Lowdown - The Wood Database
Okieimen, F.E; Eromosele, C.O (1999). "Fatty acid composition of the seed oil of Khaya senegalensis". Bioresource Technology. 69 (3): 279–280. doi:10.1016/S0960-8524(98)00190-4.
Joffe, Pitta: (2007), Indigenous Plants of South Africa, Briza Publications, pg 123