10 January 2011

KHAYA SENEGALENSIS

I was shocked when I saw this grove of Khaya senegalensis (synonym: Swietenia senegalensis; common name: African Mahogany, Senegal Mahogany; Family: Meliaceae) because this is the first time I saw these trees being pruned after so many years.

It provided a lot of good shade to the passers-by but I supposed the crown reduction was done for safety reasons, much like those along roadside with crowns that were extensively pruned to reduce the load. The silhouette of the trees looked grim against the slightly darkened sky.