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MEXICAN (ARIZONA) IRONWOOD (Olneya tesota)
Other names: ironwood

EXCELLENT

The wood of this desert tree is probably the most durable of any. It is found only in southern California and Arizona. The ironwood is very slow growing. long lived. (there is no record of how long it may last) is usually short trunked, with thin bark, thin sapwood and a very hard dark heartwood. The limbs are thorny, as are most desert trees, but not as bad as the mesquites. Great care must be taken when cutting ironwood to avoid breaking the axe blade. Dead trees shed the bark and remain indefinitely without decaying. The wood is "worked" to make novelties with the same tools used to shape petrified wood. 

The original ironwood bearing trees heal very slowly and are found with open blazes and scribing legible. The original surveyors often marked limbs because of the short trunk. Unless cut for fire wood (it burns like hard coal) or other man-caused loss the ironwood bearing tree will be there. 

Select the best formed tree or best fork if there is no trunk. Blaze carefully and use a sharp scribe with care to avoid breaking the tools. The younger trees are easier to work with. Painting is not required.