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Color/Appearance: Heartwood tends to be a reddish brown, which darkens with age. Sapwood is a yellow/tan color.
Grain/Texture: African Mesquite has a medium to coarse texture and open pores, with a slight natural luster. Clear portions of the trunk tend to have straight, wavy, or interlocked grain.
Endgrain: No data available. Most likely similar to Black Mesquite.
Rot Resistance: African Mesquite is considered durable to very durable regarding decay resistance, and also has good resistance to insect attack.
Workability: African Mesquite contains silica, and can have a moderate blunting effect on cutting edges. Clear and straight grained Mesquite is easy to work with hand and machine tools, but areas of irregular or interlocked grain can pose a challenge. Glues, turns, and finishes well.
Odor: African Mesquite is said to have a fragrant odor while being worked.
Allergies/Toxicity: Woods in the Prosopis genushave been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicityand Wood Dust Safetyfor more information.
Pricing/Availability: Seldom if ever available in the United States. No pricing data available.
Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Common Uses: Flooring, turned objects, boatbuilding, cabinetry, and furniture.
Comments: None.
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