Meliaceae

Mahogany Family

By: George Rogers

About 45 genera and 750 species of trees and shrubs with pinnately compound, alternate leaves. Flowers small, radially symmetrical, numerous. Stamens usually twice as many as petals. Ovary 3-5-locular.

With Two Important Genera in South Florida

1. Leaves once-pinnate; fruit large, woody, splitting into segments to release winged seeds…Mahogany (Swietenia mahogani)

1. Leaves 2-3 times pinnate; fruit a drupe the size of a grape…Chinaberry (Melia azederach)