Mesquite (the genus Prosopis) is represented by about 45 species of trees and shrubs native to North America, Central/South America and Africa/Asia. The word prosopis is an ancient Greek plant name, used by Dioscorides apparently for burdock. Only trees are included in the following list.

North American species

Prosopis glandulosa algaroba, bilayati kikar, common mesquite, cuji, honey locust, honey mesquite, honey-pod, ibapiguazu, inesquirte, ironwood, mesquite, screwbean, Torrey mesquite, wawahi, western honey mes­quite

Prosopis pubescens mescrew, screwbean, screwbean mesquite, screw-pod mesquite, scrub mesquite, tornillo

Pros opis velutina mesquite, velvet mesquite

General Wood Characteristics:

Prosopis alba: The sapwood is light yellow, while the heartwood is reddish brown changing to dark brown. The wood has a pronounced stripe, with spiral to interlocked grain (94).

Prosopis affinis: The sapwood is yellow, while the heartwood is a reddish brown, changing to dark brown upon exposure to the air. The wood has a medium texture, with spiral to interlocked grain (94).

Prosopis caldenia: The sapwood is yellow-ochre; the heartwood is reddish brown, turning chestnut brown after cut. The wood has pronounced stripes, with a medium texture and wavy, interlocked grain (94).

Prosopis glandulosa: The sapwood is a lemon yellow, while the heartwood is a deep reddish brown. The wood is dense, close grained, very hard and heavy, but somewhat brittle. It is exceedingly resistant to heartwood decay, with a thin sapwood. It contains high con­centrations of tannins (94).

Prosopis juliflora: The sapwood is narrow and pale yellow, while the heartwood is yellowish brown to dark brown. The wood has a slight luster, straight to wavy grain, and me­dium to coarse texture. It has a fragrant odor when freshly cut. It is hard, heavy, tough and strong (4).

Prosopis kuntzei: The sapwood is light yellow, while the heartwood is chestnut brown with patches of dark violet. The heartwood darkens upon exposure. The wood has a fine tex

ture and straight to wavy to interlocked grain. This species is probably the densest wood of the genus (74, 94).

Prosopis nigra: The sapwood is yellow-ochre, while the sapwood is chestnut brown, darken
ing upon exposure, and sometimes has a wavy stripe. The texture is average, with
slanted, interlocked grain. The wood is resistant to heartwood decay and is heavy

(94, 96).

Pros opis ruscifolia: The sapwood is light yellow; the heartwood ranges from yellow-brown to reddish brown, with dark stripes, and darkens upon exposure. The wood has coarse to medium texture, with wavy to interlocked grain (94).

 

 

aMoisture content equals 12%.

bReference (94). cReference (74). dReference (103). eReference (4). fReference (96).

Mechanical properties

Property        Green        Dry

Prosopis affinis

MOE        NA        NA        1.42a × 106 lbf/in2        9.791 GPa

MOR        NA        NA        6.43a × 103 lbf/in2        44.335 MPa

C| |        NA        NA        NA        NA

C ⊥        7.04a × 103 lbf/in2        48.541 MPa        NA        NA

WML        NA        NA        NA        NA

Hardness        NA        NA        NA        NA

Shear| |        NA        NA        NA        NA

Prosopis alba

MOE        NA        NA        0.882a × 106 lbf/in2        6.081 GPa

MOR        NA        NA        9.15a × 103 lbf/in2        63.089 MPa

C| |        NA        NA        8.51a × 103 lbf/in2        58.676 MPa

C ⊥        NA        NA        4.55a × 103 lbf/in2        31.372 MPa

WML        NA        NA        NA        NA

Hardness        NA        NA        NA        NA

Shear| |        NA        NA        NA        NA

Prosopis caldenia

MOE        NA        NA        NA        NA

MOR        NA        NA        4.82a × 103 lbf/in2        33.234 MPa

C| |        NA        NA        4.65a × 103 lbf/in2        32.062 MPa

C⊥        NA        NA        NA        NA

WML        NA        NA        NA        NA

Hardness        NA        NA        NA        NA

Shear| |        NA        NA        NA        NA

 

Mechanical properties—con.

 

Drying and shrinkagea

Percentage of shrinkage (green to final moisture content)

Type of shrinkage        0% MC        12% MC        20% MC

Tangential

Prosopis alba        3.1b        2.8c        0.7b

Prosopis glandulosa        3.2d        1.4d        0.144d

Prosopis juliflora        8.1e        7.1e        NA

Prosopis kuntzei        NA        5.3c        NA

Prosopis nigra        NA        2.5c        NA

Prosopis nigra        NA        3.0f        NA

 

 

aProsopis juliflora: This species tends to produce small checks during air

drying, but it is very stable (4). Prosopis nigra: Rated as very stable (96).

bReference (95). cReference (94). dReference (103). eReference (4). fReference (96).

Kiln Drying Schedule: No information available at this time. Working Properties:

Prosopis juliflora works easily with most tools and finishes smoothly, but it does not take a high polish. Preboring is necessary for nailing (4).

Durability: Mesquite is rated as very resistant to heartwood decay (98).

Pros opis juliflora is classed as resistant to very resistant to heartwood decay. It is suscepti­ble to Lyctus beetles, termites and pinhole bores. (4)

Prosopis nigra is resistant to heartwood decay in damp and open air conditions (96). Preservation:

Prosopis nigra is slightly permeable with reduced absorption. Immersion or surface treat­ments are good if parts are sapwood, although puncturing will work somewhat (96).

Uses:

Prosopis chilensis: Fuel, posts, stakes (74).

Pros opis glandulosa: Buildings, cabinetry, posts, charcoal, fuel, railway crossties, paving blocks (74).

Prosopis juliflora: Charcoal, firewood, buildings, cabinetry, and posts; pods are good for fodder (4).

Pros opis nandubay: Posts (74).

Pros opis nigra: Flooring, cooperage, firewood, charcoal, posts, boats, carriages, turnery, furniture, frames for doors and windows (96).

Toxicity: Dermatitis has been reported for Prosopis juliflora, P. africana and P. glandu­losa, possibly due to an alkaloid, prospinine (40, 64, 105).

Additional Reading: 10, 29, 55, 74.

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