Mesquite

The mesquite is a fascinating tree that yields a rich dark brown wood from the heartwood, with distinct growth rings.

In the last few years the National Hardwood Association has accepted grading rules for mesquite. In addition to using mesquite to manufacture a line of Danish-style furniture and a line of tables made from "western-looking" mesquite veneer that Crate and Barrel Furniture Stores are carrying in the Chicago area and East Coast stores.

Despite its growing popularity as a furniture wood there has been acceptance of mesquite by the flooring industry. Mesquite is hard, heavy and capable of withstanding the kind of abuse floors take. Flooring typically uses shorter lengths than the furniture industry, too.

Mesquite can be difficult to cut and is expensive due to the cost of drying and preparing the wood. Typically, it can be 1-1/2 times the cost of cherry. The wood is harder than rosewood and averages 5 or 6 feet and requires special handling.

The tree is short and features a short trunk and crooked limbs which yield narrow widths and lengths of lumber, limiting its usage. However, highly figured mesquite can have a very dramatic look. It grows in very dry conditions, yielding flowers twice annually that attract bees and are a source of high quality honey. The flowers are from the Mimosa family but look slightly like yellow catkins and yield a wonderful, sweet fragrance that is very distinctive.

South America's mesquite yields 50-55 percent usable product because it is used for the nearby charcoal kilns. There mesquite is also used for barbecue and scientific grades as well as furniture and flooring. Mesquite can also be used to make food. Mesquite flour, a non-glutenous flour, is another byproduct of the trees.

Other uses for mesquite include fence posts and construction lumber such as heavy structural timber. It is also used for joinery, railway sleepers, poles, piles, and turnery. Mesquite seeds, also known as beans, have long been used as food fol cattle and horses and were once consumed by Native Americans of the Southwest. The Indians of Mexico and Peru still eat mesquite beans. Mesquite is also a source of two kinds of gum which are used to make candy and Mexican dyes.

Family names: Prosopis juliflora of the family Mimosaceae

Other names: Mesquite, honey locust, ironwood, algaroba, honeypod, ablarroba, honey mesquite, Texas ironwood.

Properties: Mesquite is a hard, heavy and tough wood with high bending and crushing strengths. It has medium stiffness and medium resistance to shock loads. Its steam bending classification is moderate. It dries well, except for a tendency to develop small checks when air dried. It works well with machine and hand tools but has a blunting effect on cutting surfaces. Nailing requires pre-boring.