Mahogany: Beautiful hardwood tree that now faces extinction
Brachylaena huillensis (mahogany) or muhugu in Kikuyu on the sides of a road. The tree is a favourite among wood-carvers. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Mahogany has multiple uses that include timber, fuel, carvings, construction and fencing.
An essential oil distilled from the wood has a pleasant perfume. It is the source of mahogany oil, used in making soap and perfumes.
Studies have shown that the tree is fast-disappearing in its native ranges, a victim of its own commercial value, especially in carving.
According to the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, mahogany’s extinction may cause the collapse of the carving sector, which plays a crucial role in employment creation and earns foreign exchange through exports.
Brachylaena huillensis (mahogany) is native to Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Its common English name is silver oak or mahogany. In Kikuyu, it is known as muhugu.
