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