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Mesquite (from Nahuatl mizquitl) is a leguminous plant of the Prosopis
genus found in Northern Mexico and the United States from the
U.S.-Mexico border in Texas up to southwestern Kansas and from
southeastern California and southwestern Utah to the southern limits of
the Sonoran desert. Mesquite Trees are also found in the Chihuahuan Desert of Mexico.
Mediterranean mesquite is found in the steppes of Syria and northern Iraq.
The species Prosopis pallida was introduceed to Hawaii in 1828, and is
now very common in the drier coastal parts of the islands called the Kiawe
tree which is a prime source of monofloral honey production.
Mesquite wood is hard, allowing it to be used for furniture and implements.
As firewood, it burns slowly. We use mesquite to barbecue, and the smoke from the
wood adds a flavor to the meat we like. Other woods like Oak, are good and add their own particular aroma and taste, but our mesquite addiction is permanent. In addition, the flowers provide a
nectar source for bees to produce mesquite monofloral honey, which
contains the same smoky flavors. The bean pods ("screwbeans") can be ground into a flour that can be used to make bread or jelly. |
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My experience with Mesquite is personal. When I was a Boy Scout leader I
would bring Mesquite wood (always green or not completely dried) to
campouts because it would burn slowly all night (that is why I use it in our
BBQ pits, too). The scouts could use the embers for cooking eggs, bacon,
and pancakes even though the wood had been burning all night. The other
great thing about Mesquite wood is that few sparks would fly and start
fires while everyone was asleep at the campout.
Thanks for listening.
Tom Davis
PS: Mesquite trees are mostly unique to North America. There are approximately 50 known varieties and all but three are native to North America. There is one variety reported in Asia and two in Africa. Mesquite trees are considered by many as a "pest tree" and even burning large sections seems to cause them to multiply within five years. The mesquite is so adaptable that the height is mostly determined by available water supply. A five foot tree would have become a fifty foot tree if there was more water. I have seen long "above-ground" roots that look like water pipes extending many yards to a supply of water. Now that's what I call a tree! |
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