Plantation grown Fijian mahogany, also known as big leaf mahogany (sweitenia macrophylla) was introduced to Fiji in the 1960’s under the British colony. Today the plantations comprised of over 40,000ha which are harvested using sustainable harvesting practices.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

Heartwood is pinkish to pale brown, with reddish brown streaks, becoming darker and more uniform on exposure to light. The sapwood bend about 40mm

in width is light pink to yellow brown. Texture is intermediate and the grain wavy to interlocked. Air-dry density is 570 kg/m3. Shrinkage is low.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES:

Strength group S6 (green), SD6 (seasoned)

WORKING PROPERTIES

The timber can be sawn and machined easily in both the green and dry conditions. Sawn are generally smooth, but some furriness may be apparent

associated with the bands of tension wood. Very smooth surfaces are obtained in planning, although some chipping may occur on radial faces because of interlocked grain.