[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Wood Info many legumes toxic

[YankeePerm at aol.com]

First of all, honey locust is an outstanding specialty wood, making beautiful 
furniture, etc.   I saw a well-finished honey locust table some years back 
that virtually glowed a golden light, and the grain is sumptuous.

The main point I want to make is to address the very dangerous claim that 
most legume seeds are edible.   Some of the most toxic seeds in the world are 
legume seeds, e.g., Erythina spp.  Honey locusts are indeed edible, though 
normally it is the sweet pulp of the pod that is eaten.   Some of my permaculture 
students in Iowa made a perfectly good temphe from the seed, however.   Be 
careful about these generalizations.   Someone might believe them!

Dan Hemenway

In a message dated 10/13/06 5:45:59 AM, LLile at projsolco.com writes:


> That being said, Honey locust is one of the highest fuel value woods that 
> grow int he midwest (Only Hedgeapple is higher, of the ones I know well). The 
> beans are edible, as are most legumes, and cows will digest them readily.  
> People, however, have to boil them incessantly to get them to be chewable.
> 





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