Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Unusual "wood"
ebd
I grew a Mexican jug plant (Beaucarnea recurvata) for about 40 years. It ended up in a 16" pot that was getting too heavy for me to move so I harvested it. You can see why (second picture) it's called a jug plant. Right now, when I tap it, it sounds a bit like a watermellon so it might (probably?) won't dry well. I'm going to hang on to it anyway and once it's dry have at it - at least to see what's inside.
Re: Unusual "wood"
david
In my neck of the woods it is sold as an indoor plant called Pony Tail Palm. Had one that started in a 6" pot and grew into a large plant over 6' tall. Had no more room for it in my yard in successively larger pots and gave it away. In the ground it can grow well over 10 feet tall. Never considered it as wood to turn, but who knows?
Re: Unusual "wood"
John Veerkamp
It is a type of palm IIRC. Some palms are turnable, but many are just like loosely bound grass stems.
Re: Unusual "wood"
ebd
Actually, to be botanically correct: Beaucarnea recurvata (elephant's foot, ponytail palm) is a species of plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to the states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz and San Luis Potosí in eastern Mexico. Despite its common name, it is not closely related to the true palms (Arecaceae).
Since it's in the aspragus family I don't really think it's going to work for turning. This is more for giggles. Who knows? Maybe once it drys out I could hollow it some leaving the bark untouched and get a jugl to hold dry beans.
