Chinese Mahogany
This recent planting was propagated from root cuttings from a larger parent that was declining in health and growing into the structure of the Summerhouse, even though the southeast corner of the roof and brick wall below were reduced years ago to allow the tree to continue to grow and expand. This is a rare example of tree preservation where the building is sacrificed to benefit a living tree. The Chinese Mahogany was chosen because it has sort of a tropical exotic look which landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted desired for the Summerhouse landscape and to provide a more open and interesting dappled shade. Aside from its use in furniture making this tree is used in traditional Chinese medicine and extracts have shown to have anti-cancer properties.