Ironwood, Desert

(Olneya tesota)

North America

The growth range of the species is limited to the washes and valleys of the Sonoran Desert below 2,500 foot elevation. The Sonoran Desert is located in southwestern Arizona, southern California, and the northwestern part of Mexico. Desert ironwoods are usually found in sandy washes where water is available.

Desert Ironwood is sometimes referred to as Arizona Ironwood, Palo-de-Hierro, Palo-de-Fierro.

The wood of the desert ironwood is very hard and dense. It actually sinks in water. Desert Ironwood reaches maturity at 2000 years, more or less. The heartwood is typically dark to light brown. The sapwood is yellowish-white and sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Texture is fine to coarse and the grain is straight.

It was used by the Seri Native Americans of Mexico for tool handles. Today the Seri Indians make carvings of desert plants and animals from the ironwood. Dead wood is gathered from the desert floor, and the carvings are made with hand tools. Tradition has it that carvings made from the desert ironwood bring good fortune and long life. The carvings are in much demand, especially large carvings, and bring in a lot of money. Illegal harvesting of ironwood is on the rise and live trees are being cut down.