The Chino tree, or Mexican Ebony, is native to the states of Sonora, Sinaloa and southern Baja. The bark is used for tanning hides and many trees have the lower flanks stripped of swatches of bark. Cream-colored blooms appear in the spring with long thick brown seed pods appearing by mid-summer. This hard wood tree is similar to the Mezquite and is prized for furniture building both for its color and finish. We have used it for bedside tables, sink vanities and shelving at El Pedregal.