For anyone starting to learn the tropical flora, there is nothing as infuriating as having species that do not fit the well-known family characters. But such species occur regularly in environments as diverse as a rain forest.

In terms of non-reproductive characters, the family of the famed Mahoganies (Swietenia spp.) and Red Cedars (Toona cilata) is characterized by alternately arrange compound leaves with a terminal leaflet. The Pink Mahogany (Dysoxylum oppositifolium) breaks these rules. [Read more about learning FNQ’s local Mahoganies]

It has opposite compound leaves and does not often have a terminal leaflet. This features makes this species esasily confused with Flindersia (eg. Flindersia braleyana), which is from the Orange family (Rutaeceae).

But once this divergence is noted, the species becomes a known friend, and additional distinguishing features become apparent. And one might find that the Pink Mahogany is actually one of the most distinctive members of the Meliaceae in the region.

Unlike Flindersia, the Pink Mahogany does not have old dots. Also, the Pink Mahogany has a very regular occurence of hairy “armpits” (or foveoles) on the leaves where the veins come off the midrib.