Ironwood

An interesting fact about most 'ironwood' woods is that they are so dense that their specific gravities exceed 1.0, so they will sink instead of float when put in water.

Examples of ironwoods that can be found in North America include American hornbeam, mesquite, desert ironwood, and leadwood. Leadwood (Krugiodendron ferreum) has a specific gravity of up to 1.42, making it the heaviest in the United States.

The heaviest wood in the world is black ironwood (Olea laurifolia) also known as South Afri, which can be found in the West Indes. It has a specific gravity of 1.49 and can weigh up to 93 pounds per foot.

I"ron*wood` (?), n. Bot.

A tree unusually hard, strong, or heavy wood.

⇒ In the United States, the hornbeam and the hop hornbeam are so called; also the Olneya Tesota, a small tree of Arizona; in the West Indies, the Erythroxylon areolatum, and several other unrelated trees; in China, the Metrosideros vera; in India, the Mesua ferrea, and two species of Inga; in Australia, the Eucalyptus Sideroxylon, and in many countries, species of Sideroxylon and Diospyros, and many other trees.

 

© Webster 1913.