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... the mesquite tree ...
big heat massive huge
perfumed vanilla tones with a hint of arrowroot architectural pieces almost
too nice to burn good yellow flames and a quiet wood
this is a messy wood – don’t use white gloves!
Mesquite are deciduous trees and can reach up to a height of twenty to thirty feet (6 to 9 metres) but generally they are more of a shrub size Although the Mesquite does not grow to a great height it can have a huge tap root – sometimes up to a depth of 200 feet! |
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The logs have very little bark - the wood is a rich dark chocolate brown, very twisted and architectural, seriously heavy, a very dense wood but also quite messy from a handling point of view |
Early settlers also found uses for this excellent hardwood: fence posts; wagon wheels; furniture (it is called Texan Ironwood when it is used for furniture); cooking; heating and slabs of Mesquite were even used for paving on the streets and pathways |
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In some parts of Texas there are so many Mesquite trees that it is thought they are partly responsible for the lowering of the groundwater tables. It has also been introduced to parts of Africa, Asia and Australia but it is now considered one of the world’s most problematic invasive species – the tree can actually regenerate from a small piece of root left in the soil |
However, on the plus side it will flourish where no other species of tree will grow, it quickly provides shade, food and habitat for local wildlife, quite often it can flower up to four times a year and because it is a legume it also fixes nitrogen into the soil – so maybe not such a bad tree after all! |
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The pods are highly nutritious and are sought after by wildlife, they can also be dried, ground and used as flour which gives a sweet nutty taste to bread, pancakes and biscuits |
If you infuse the Mesquite leaves in water they produce very effective eye drops |
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Native Americans made excellent use of the Mesquite: sewing needles from the thorns; inner bark for baskets and fabric; sap for black dye; honey from the nectar and the wood for bows and arrows for hunting |
As long as the wood is properly and fully cured it is highly desirable for woodworking and wood turning as it has dimensional stability, however it is very brutal on chain saws and hand saws |
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If you use this wood for barbecues, it is smokeless, burns slowly and imparts a very distinct flavour to the food |
