Itin

Prosopis kuntzei (P. nigra pictured)

Common Name(s): Itin

Scientific Name: Prosopis kuntzei

Distribution: Gran Chaco region of South America

Tree Size: 20-35 ft (6-11 m) tall, 1-2 ft (.3-.6 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 72 lbs/ft³ (1,150 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .84

Hardness: 3,200 lb_f (14,220 N)

Rupture Strength: 22,300 lb_f/in² (153,790 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 2,520,000 lb_f/in² (17,380 MPa)

Crushing Strength: – lb_f/in² (- MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 7.2%, Tangential: 8.8%, Volumetric: 18.3%, T/R Ratio: 1.2

Color/Appearance: Heartwood tends to be a medium to chocolate brown, sometimes with purplish patches. Color tends to darken with age. Sapwood is a light yellow color.

Grain/Pore: Itin has a fine to medium texture and open pores, with a slight natural luster. Grain can be straight, wavy, or interlocked.

Endgrain: No data available. Most likely similar to Black Mesquite.

Durability: Itin is considered durable to very durable regarding decay resistance.

Workability: Itin can be more difficult to work than other species of mesquite in the Prosopis genus on account of its high density, but overall, it is manageable. Glues, turns, and finishes well.

Scent: Itin is said to have a fragrant odor while being worked.

Safety: Woods in the Prosopis genus have been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: Itin only tends to be occasionally available: in small sizes, or as large irregular slabs; it may be sold under the generic term “mesquite.” Larger boards free from defects are uncommon. Prices for Itin are likely to be in the mid range for an imported tropical hardwood.

Comments: Itin stands as the densest, hardest, and strongest of the mesquite species found in the Prosopis genus. Some pieces can be quite darkly colored and dense, and Itin has been suggested as an ebony substitute.

Some common uses for Itin include: flooring, firewood, turned objects, cabinetry, furniture, carvings, and other small specialty wood items.

Related Species:

African Mesquite (Prosopis africana)

Black Mesquite (Prosopis nigra)

Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)

Prosopis juliflora (Prosopis juliflora)

Scans/Pictures: There are currently no pictures of this exact wood species, but a similar species within the Prosopis genus is being substituted (P. nigra). If you’d like to contribute a wood sample of this specific species to be scanned, (even small pieces of veneer can be sent), please use the contact form.