mesquites
Southwestern firewood trees
Mesquites are thorny trees or shrubs native to arid regions of the Americas, particularly the American Southwest and Mexico.
They produce sweet seed pods traditionally used for food and animal feed.
The wood burns hot and slow, making it prized for barbecue smoking: mesquite-grilled steak.
Mesquites thrive in harsh conditions where other trees cannot survive.
Having sharp protrusions
- shrubSmall woody plant
- legumePod-producing plant family
- podsEnclosed natural containers
- deciduousSheds foliage seasonally
drought-tolerant · nitrogen-fixing · taproots · xerophyte · branches · bark · leaves · flowers
Enclosed natural containers
- flourMilled grain powder
- mealOccasion for nourishment
- sweetnessSugary taste quality
- legumesEdible pod-bearing plants
foraging · Indigenous · harvesting · grinding · nutrition · carbohydrates · traditional · atole
thorny
Having sharp protrusions
deciduous · drought-tolerant · nitrogen-fixing · taproots · xerophyte · branches · bark · leaves · flowers · seeds
pods
Enclosed natural containers
legumes · foraging · Indigenous · harvesting · grinding · nutrition · carbohydrates · traditional · atole · tortillas
desert
To leave behind completely
- SouthwestArid American expanse
- chaparralDense, drought-adapted shrubbery
- rangelandLand for grazing animals
arid · Sonoran · wildlife · habitat · grassland · invasive · encroachment · cattle · overgrazing · groundwater
smoking
Inhaling burning tobacco
flavor · wood · charcoal · brisket · Texas · smoky · aromatics · firewood · cookout · meat
mesquiteswillows
Salix genus trees
mangroves · cypresses · bald cypress · alders · hydrophytes
mesquitesapplewood
Lumber from fruit trees
cherrywood · alder · pecan · maple · fruitwoods
- mesquite chipsBarbecue flavoring wood pieces
- mesquite wood