Chinaberry...?

Cleared a line today that had a few limbs from a Chinaberry tree growing up towards it. Just a couple arm loads of limb wood but I've never burned it before and was wondering if anyone here had and how it burned? I googled it and very little information, mostly conflicting, popped up.

 

I have never heard of it. All wood burns. Let it dry and let us know how well.

 

Uh yea, what he said. Chinaberry? Got a pic by chance?

 

Here ya go! Take a minute to check it out. Non-native, some say invasive.
Virginia Tech Dendrology Fact Sheet

 

Looks ash like.

 

Yep it does until ya look closer at the leaves and they're alternating and not opposite.

 

You see? There's not much info on burning the stuff. I'm waiting to see if more folks from the southern states have experience with this type of wood. This is the first time I've come across this type of tree in northern Arizona. It definitely should not be in this area at this elevation. But as Ralphie stated, non native possibly invasive.

 

Hey ya never know, maybe it burns like Ash too.

 

I will as soon as the sun rises. It'll be around 8am MST

 

Here's the pic.

 

Gotta agree with Dennis. That looks like it will end up being pretty soft. Still it'll burn gooder than a snowball. Compare it with a pic of this bitternut hickory though

 

It's very common down here in the south. I don't think I have burned much over the years, not enough to remember anyway. It is a fairly soft wood, pretty grain, dries fast. Robin's like to eat the berries after they ferment. I've seen some drunk birds, they will sit in the road as you drive over them, not moving. Ol' timers would give the berries to a wormy horse or pony. Kills the parasites and cleans them out.

 

I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to reply to my thread. Due to my work I'm fortunate enough to have between 20 and 30 varieties of wood to burn. When ever I come across a new one I always get overly excited and want to know everything about what people think of it and how it burns. Again, thanks for the replies!

 

The grackles where I grew up used to get drunk as skunks off fermented mulberries. Their erratic flight and stumbling was comical. I used to hate the messy bastards. Many lost their lives in the jaws of my German shepherd.

 

I'm late to the party! It burns hot and fast, but still worth hoarding in my book. And the straight grain makes it a pleasure to split. Everything I have read says it's plenty poisonous, so I would not feed it to animals!

Here's some more information on it:

• Melia azedarach - Wikipedia
  
• Texas A&M Forest Service - Trees of Texas - List of Trees
  
• Plants of Texas Rangelands » Chinaberry
  
• https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/uploadedFil...(1)/Common_Invasive_Plants_in_South_Texas.pdf
  
• Are Chinaberry Trees Poisonous?

 

I asked chatGPT about chinaberry wood and here is the answer it gave:

Burning chinaberry wood is generally not recommended for several reasons:


1. Toxicity

• Chinaberry trees (Melia azedarach) produce compounds called tetranortriterpenoids, which are toxic. While these compounds are mostly concentrated in the fruit and leaves, the wood may also contain traces.

• Burning chinaberry wood can release toxic fumes or irritants, especially if it is green or not properly seasoned.


2. Health Hazards

• The smoke from chinaberry wood may cause respiratory irritation or other health issues, particularly in sensitive individuals.

• Prolonged exposure to its smoke could be harmful due to the potential release of toxins when burned.


3. Suitability as Firewood

• Chinaberry wood burns quickly and doesn’t produce much heat compared to hardwoods like oak or maple.

• It creates a lot of smoke and creosote, which can build up in chimneys, posing a fire hazard.


Recommendations


If you must use chinaberry wood:

• Ensure it is fully dried and seasoned to reduce smoke and toxins.

• Burn it outdoors in a well-ventilated area, such as in a fire pit, rather than in an indoor fireplace or wood stove.


For indoor heating or cooking, it’s best to avoid burning chinaberry wood and opt for safer, well-known firewood varieties.

 

OK, This answers more specifically the question I asked on my recent post! Thanks for the information! Think it’ll just go on the big burn pile.

 

Interesting,never heard of before.
Looks like ash leafs, with Bradford pear type fruits.
Id split it and season and burn it, can't be no worse than willow or cottonwood

 

We don’t have willow or cottonwood here so I have nothing to compare it to. The fact that there could be some negative effects from burning it in the wood stove makes me inclined to junk it.