How to Identify and Classify Mahogany Trees
  • 1. What is the primary distinguishing feature of genuine mahogany wood?
A) Straight grain
B) Interlocked grain
C) Burl grain
D) Wavy grain
  • 2. Which genus primarily contains commercially valuable mahogany species?
A) Swietenia
B) Cedrela
C) Khaya
D) Entandrophragma
  • 3. Where is Swietenia macrophylla (Big-leaf Mahogany) primarily found?
A) West Africa
B) Central and South America
C) Madagascar
D) Southeast Asia
  • 4. What is a common characteristic of mahogany leaves?
A) Needle-like
B) Simple, entire
C) Palmately compound
D) Pinnately compound
  • 5. Which characteristic is NOT typically used to identify mahogany?
A) Bark texture
B) Flower color
C) Leaf shape
D) Wood grain
  • 6. What is the Janka hardness scale used for?
A) Measuring soil pH
B) Measuring leaf size
C) Measuring wood density and hardness
D) Measuring tree height
  • 7. Which mahogany species is considered the most valuable?
A) Toona ciliata (Red Cedar)
B) Swietenia mahagoni (West Indian Mahogany)
C) Swietenia macrophylla (Big-leaf Mahogany)
D) Khaya senegalensis (African Mahogany)
  • 8. What is the typical color of freshly cut mahogany wood?
A) Pinkish-brown
B) Gray
C) Yellow
D) Green
  • 9. Which of these is a sustainable forestry certification?
A) USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)
B) EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
C) FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
D) OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
  • 10. What does the term 'figure' refer to in wood identification?
A) The pattern or appearance of the grain
B) The size of the tree
C) The age of the tree
D) The moisture content of the wood
  • 11. How can you distinguish genuine mahogany from similar-looking woods like Sapele?
A) By weighing the wood
B) By looking at the tree height
C) By examining the end grain pattern
D) By smelling the wood
  • 12. What is a common use for mahogany wood?
A) Fine furniture
B) Firewood
C) Paper pulp
D) Construction framing
  • 13. What is the shape of the fruit of Swietenia species?
A) Capsule
B) Berry
C) Acorn
D) Drupe
  • 14. Which factor most significantly impacts the value of mahogany lumber?
A) Leaf size
B) Tree age
C) Grain quality and figure
D) Root depth
  • 15. What is the role of 'pores' in wood identification?
A) They protect the tree from insects
B) They transport water and nutrients in the living tree
C) They determine the tree's height
D) They are responsible for the wood's color
  • 16. Which of these is NOT a common characteristic used to identify trees in general?
A) Bark characteristics
B) Leaf shape
C) Branching pattern
D) Soil type surrounding the tree
  • 17. Why is sustainable harvesting of mahogany important?
A) To make furniture heavier
B) To prevent deforestation and species endangerment
C) To change the color of the wood
D) To increase the price of mahogany
  • 18. What climate is best suited for growing mahogany trees?
A) Arctic
B) Temperate
C) Desert
D) Tropical
  • 19. What is the term for the arrangement of leaves on a stem?
A) Morphology
B) Phyllotaxy
C) Dendrology
D) Taxonomy
  • 20. What is the impact of heartwood on wood durability?
A) Heartwood is more durable than sapwood
B) Heartwood does not affect durability
C) Heartwood and sapwood have equal durability
D) Heartwood is less durable than sapwood
  • 21. Which insect is a significant pest of mahogany trees?
A) Termites
B) Aphids
C) Beetles
D) Mahogany Shoot Borer
  • 22. What type of wood is Khaya often referred to as?
A) Canadian Mahogany
B) Brazilian Mahogany
C) Philippine Mahogany
D) African Mahogany
  • 23. What does 'quartersawn' lumber refer to?
A) Lumber cut parallel to the growth rings
B) Lumber cut from the center of the tree
C) Lumber cut perpendicular to the growth rings
D) Lumber treated with chemicals
  • 24. Which is a characteristic of seasoned mahogany wood?
A) Increased susceptibility to decay
B) Brighter color
C) Increased weight
D) Reduced moisture content
  • 25. What is 'sapwood'?
A) The root system of the tree
B) The inner, older wood of the tree
C) The bark of the tree
D) The outer, younger wood of the tree
  • 26. What are lenticels?
A) The roots of the tree
B) Pores on the bark used for gas exchange
C) The seeds of the tree
D) The leaves of the tree
  • 27. What is dendrology?
A) The study of climate
B) The study of rocks
C) The study of trees
D) The study of insects
  • 28. How can climate change impact mahogany populations?
A) Altering growing conditions and increasing pest infestations
B) Decreasing pest infestations
C) Improving wood quality
D) Increasing tree lifespan
  • 29. Which organization regulates the international trade of endangered species, including some mahogany?
A) WHO
B) CITES
C) UN
D) NATO
  • 30. What is a common method of propagating mahogany trees?
A) Seeds
B) Grafting
C) Layering
D) Budding
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