Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Swietenia macrophylla
Lumber
Medicinal
Ornamental
English Common Name
Mahogany, Aguano, Araputanga, Mara
Colombian Common Name
Caoba, Caobo, Palo santo, Cedro
Tree Family
Meliaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
13cm
Length
×
5cm
Width
Tree Height
Large (> 35m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–1500m
0 3000
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Colombia

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru
Colombia
Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Huila, Quindío, Santander, Tolima

Exotic in

Latin America
Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Haiti, Jamaica, Marianas, Puerto Rico, South Asia, Venezuela

Coffee Agroforestry Information

Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Unknown
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Tree Management
Propagated by seeds and cuttings. It is fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and grows in poor soils. Susceptible to borer attacks.

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Lumber
  • Medicinal
  • Ornamental
Used to adorn and decorate spaces. Used to treat skin conditions, improve blood circulation and relieve pain. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective agent in Alzheimer's disease. Used in the making of luxury furniture, fine woodworking, musical instruments and handicrafts.
Farm Services
  • Soil Improvement
  • Reforestation
  • Water Protection
Soil conservation and recovery of degraded areas. It is a pioneer species.
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
Attracts pollinators, flowers are visited by bees and other insects.

Citations

Citations
Plants of the World Online (POWO). (2024). Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/; International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (2024). IUCN Red List. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.iucnredlist.org/; Fern, Ken (2024). Tropical Plants Database. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://tropical.theferns.info/; Universidad EIA. (2024). Catálogo virtual de Flora del Valle de Aburrá. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://catalogofloravalleaburra.eia.edu.co/; World Flora Online. (2024). World Flora Online. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.worldfloraonline.org/; Universidad Nacional de Colombia. (2024). Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/es/; Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). (2024). GBIF. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.gbif.org/es/ Sistema de Información sobre Biodiversidad de Colombia (SIB) (2024). Catálogo de la Biodiversidad. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from: https://catalogo.biodiversidad.co/ Catálogo virtual de flora del valle de Aburrá. Retrieved from: https://catalogofloravalleaburra.eia.edu.co/species/117; Gutiérrez, J.F., Pinzón, E. (2024). Propagación de caoba (Swietenia macrophylla, king) como una alternativa en la recuperación de zonas deforestadas en la cuenca del río Carare. Universidad Libre Jazuli, I., Hing, G., Selvaratnam, L., Han, L., Alex, D., Kumari, Y. (2023). Prospective approach of Swietenia macrophylla as a neuroprotective agento for Alzheimer´s Disease: Emphasis on ameliorative mechanism. Journal of Functional Foods 108