IT IS VERY RARE TO FIND A ROOT BALL LARGE ENOUGH TO SALVAGE WORKABLE WOOD TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL PEN.  THIS IS ONE OF THOSE FINDS.  THE TEXAS MOUNTAIN LAUREL (sophora secundiflora), MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS MESCAL BEAN, IS MOST COMMONLY FOUND IN THE HILL COUNTRY OF TEXAS.  THE PLANT IS A SHRUB USUALLY NO TALLER THAN 8 FT TALL BUT SOMETIMES GROWS UP TO 35 FT TALL IN LIMITED AREAS.  THE PLANT HAS PURPLE FLOWERS AND HAS FRUITS TO TOXIC BEAN PODS WITH BRIGHT RED BEANS.  THE BEANS ARE SAID TO BE GOOD LUCK CHARMS, (as long as they are not eaten), TO THE PERSON THAT CARRIES IT IN HIS POCKET.  THE ROOTS OF THIS COLORFUL PLANT ARE BRIGHT YELLOW IN COLOR AND QUITE DENSE.  THIS BEAUTIFUL PEN HAS BEEN STABILIZED WITH AN AMBER RED ACRYLIC TO FILL THE NATURAL VOIDS THAT EXISTED BEFORE IT WAS CRAFTED.  THIS IS CLEARLY VISIBLE ON THE CAP AND GIVES THE PEN ITS TRUE "ONE OF A KIND" BEAUTY.  THE WOOD SHINES VERY BRIGHTLY AND IS UNUSUAL IN ITS MARKINGS.  THIS PEN HAS THE CLASSIC STRAIGHT LINES OF THE NAVIGATOR STYLE AND HAS 24K GOLD AND STAINLESS STEEL MEDIUM POINT NIB TO ENHANCE THE YELLOWISH COLOR OF THE WOOD.  ALL THE ADDITIONAL FITTINGS ARE DURABLE CHROME. THE PEN IS POSTABLE AND IS VERY EASY TO MAINTAIN WITH REFILLS READILY FOUND AT ANY OFFICE SUPPLY.  UNLIKE MOST FOUNTAIN PENS, THIS IS A MEDIUM SIZED WELL BALANCED PEN THAT FITS JUST AS WELL IN A SMALL HAND AS A LARGE ONE.  THIS PEN WOULD MAKE A GREAT GIFT TO THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE EVEN IF THAT SOMEONE IS YOU!