Swietenia Jacq.

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen-tube urn-shaped and with 10 teeth, the anthers attached internally between the teeth Stamens 4–6, adherent to the column and extending free beyond it

Disc

Disc saucer-shaped. Ovary 5-celled with 10–14 ovules in each cell, attached to the central axis; stigma disc-like

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a woody capsule, 5-valved and dehiscent from the base, leaving a persistent 5-winged central axis; seeds numerous, each with a terminal oblong wing, overlapping downward in 2 rows in each cell; endosperm fleshy. Fruit a woody capsule, 5-valved and dehiscent apically almost to the base, separating from a persistent 5-winged axis; seeds pendulous, each with a terminal wing, overlapping downward in 2 rows in each cell; endosperm scanty.

Distribution

A tropical American genus of 3 species, all notable for their extremely valuable wood. A tropical American genus of 15 species.

Morphology General Habit

Large trees with aromatic reddish wood; leaves even-pinnate, the leaflets in many pairs, opposite or subopposite, entire and more or less unequal-sided Medium-sized to very large trees with dark red wood; leaves even-pinnate, glabrous, the leaflets opposite, entire, and strongly unequal-sided

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicles large, terminal; calyx 4–5-lobed; petals 4–5, erect, keeled on the inner side toward the base, the keel adherent to the disc. Disc elevated and forming a column, 4–6-lobed Panicles axillary and subterminal, much shorter than the leaves; flowers small, white, polygamomonoecious; calyx 5-lobed, the lobes imbricate; petals 5, convolute in bud

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary sessile at the apex of the column, 5-celled, with 8–12 ovules in each cell, in two series pendent from the axis; stigma disc-like