Khaya anthotheca (Welwitsch) C. de Candolle, Meliaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Low risk, score: -1 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Garretia anthotheca Welw.; Khaya nyasica Stapf ex Baker f.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Nyasaland mahogany, white mahogany

French: acajou blanc

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Large to very large evergreen tree with a long straight stem. Bark fairly smooth but flaking; large trees often buttressed. Leaves spirally arranged, paripinnate with 2-7 pairs of leaflets; leaflets oblong-elliptic, up to 17 cm long, glossy green above, paler below, glabrous, apex abruptly tapering in to a short point, base slightly asymmetric; margin entire. Flowers in axillary branched heads, white, c. 1 cm in diameter, sweetly scented. Fruit ovoid, woody, 3-5 cm in diameter, splitting into 4-5 valves, pale brown. Seeds winged"  (Flora of Zimbabwe online).

Habitat/ecology:  In Zimbabwe (native), "in evergreen and riverine forest up to 1400 m"  (Flora of Zimbabwe online).  In Hawai‘i (O‘ahu), naturalized in Lyon Arboretum where  "thousands of seedlings and saplings were found throughout the Arboretum and far from planted specimens, but they are especially common in Haukulu.  Seedlings were often found growing in partial shade, among basket grass (Oplismenus hirtellus)"  (Daehler & Baker, 2006; p. 9).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Tropical Africa (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 572-573) Experimental planting, present status unknown. Voucher cited: DA 16429
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Daehler, Curtis C./Baker, Raymond F. (2006) (p. 9) As Khaya nyasica Stapf ex Baker f. Vouchers cited: Daehler 1074 (BISH), Daehler 1075 (HAW), Nagata 455 (HLA)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Khaya anthotheca, please let us know.