Toona calantas
MELIACEAE. Endemic. Critically endangered
SIZE: Up to 25m tall; size 70cm diameter
TYPE: Deciduous
HABITAT: Throughout the Philippines; in primary rainforests at low and medium altitudes
The kalantas is a good replacement for its ubiquitous cousin, the non-native mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla and Swietenia mahogany). It grows moderately fast, and its red timber, with a pleasant cedar smell, is used mainly for furniture and musical instruments. The late botanist Leonard Co highly recommended the kalantas as timber species of superior quality.