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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: okie64 on February 03, 2011, 08:03:00 PM

Title: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: okie64 on February 03, 2011, 08:03:00 PM
I posted a thread on here the other day about cuttin some hophornbeam and got some good feedback so maybe yall can help me out a little more here. I cut one of the trees that I thought was hophornbeam but when I split it today I'm not real sure. I guess for some reason I thought it was going to be a really light colored wood and as you can see in these photos it only has about 1/2" thick light colored sapwood and the rest is fairly dark heartwood. The split layin on the top right in the first pic is osage, I put that in so you guys could see the color contrast. I know its hard to identify a tree just lookin at pics but any feedback would be greatly appreciated.  (http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee503/Jamey_Burkhart/004-3.jpg)  (http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee503/Jamey_Burkhart/003-3.jpg)  (http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee503/Jamey_Burkhart/001-5.jpg)
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Knawbone on February 03, 2011, 08:37:00 PM
Not sure just what you have there, bark looks like butternut. HHBeam is a slightly of white wood and never that straight or that large in diam., at leased not where I live. Im sure someone will know.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: vanillabear? on February 03, 2011, 08:43:00 PM
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on February 03, 2011, 08:43:00 PM
Yellow like osage but dont think it is.  Not sure.  Could be?
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: don s on February 03, 2011, 08:45:00 PM
that bark is not HHB. i'll try and look it up in my audubon guide. without a picture of a leaf or leaves it's difficult. can it be osage? i've never seen it before.
                    don
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: formerbutcher on February 03, 2011, 08:54:00 PM
Definently not HHB, looks Black Locust to me, did it have little rose like thorns on the branches ?
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Savage on February 03, 2011, 09:02:00 PM
If you can cut a piece and sand it a little and post pics of the leave I think someone will be able to ID it for you. Just an idea.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: vanillabear? on February 03, 2011, 09:09:00 PM
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: formerbutcher on February 03, 2011, 09:10:00 PM
After looking again,My moneys on Black Locust...but i've been wrong before   :)
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: formerbutcher on February 03, 2011, 09:13:00 PM
VB nice looking HHB !
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: don s on February 03, 2011, 09:34:00 PM
given the time of year, this is a long shot. but, would you happen to have a leaf or could you get one? would make id easier.
                                  don
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: okie64 on February 03, 2011, 09:38:00 PM
Pretty sure its not black locust. Weve got lots of that around here and I've split locust before. This stuff split really easy and straight. There are no thorns anywhere on the tree or branches.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: formerbutcher on February 03, 2011, 10:01:00 PM
got me then ?
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Tommy Leach on February 03, 2011, 10:16:00 PM
Is it a mulberry? I've got some that is like yours', just a little lighter that Osage. Tommy
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: okie64 on February 03, 2011, 11:17:00 PM
Tommy, it could be mulberry I guess. Most mulberry I've seen has had a lot tighter bark than this though. There are 3 more trees like this one in the woods where I cut it. I'll try to go back and look at the other ones to see if I can get any more clues. I'll cut a chunk of it off and sand it down and post some more pics and maybe that will help too.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: bjansen on February 04, 2011, 01:10:00 PM
Looks like a mulberry to me.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: mississippidave on February 04, 2011, 03:58:00 PM
That's probably black locust
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Dan Landis on February 04, 2011, 04:21:00 PM
I'd say mulberry, cut a lot of it lately for fire wood.  Not many trees in my area that are fit for staves though.   Definitely not HHB......Dan
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: GREG IN MALAD on February 04, 2011, 04:40:00 PM
http://www.dof.virginia.gov/trees/index.shtml
Try this website, looks like mulberry to me.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: okie64 on February 04, 2011, 06:33:00 PM
I got a piece of it cut off and sanded down. Looks like some kind of ash to me. The only one I could find that has thin sapwood and thick dark heartwood like this is black ash. The bark didnt really look like ash bark though. This piece is only 2" wide. What do you guys think? (http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee503/Jamey_Burkhart/002-2.jpg) (http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee503/Jamey_Burkhart/001-6.jpg)
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Knawbone on February 04, 2011, 07:07:00 PM
Was it growing around water or dry land- hill or flatland?
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Knawbone on February 04, 2011, 07:10:00 PM
The bark is very similar to w. Ash and Ash grows straight like that. It could very well be Black Ash
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: don s on February 04, 2011, 07:30:00 PM
http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/edge-farm/Woods/odnr-property_walk_jan_20_2009/TOC.html

try this link. see if you can find your tree.
                                       don
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: okie64 on February 04, 2011, 08:20:00 PM
Knawbone, it was growin in some woods on the edge of a field with post oaks, hickories, green ash and osage. Fairly dry ground.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: frank bullitt on February 04, 2011, 08:48:00 PM
Excuse me, Okie, but this doesn't look like the wood in the center of your first pic?

Is it me, or just this different computer, I've using?

The first pic is either, locust or mulberry like others have said. Mulberry has a smooth golden brown bark! Black locust has a light brown, deep, thick, furrowed bark!

Your last pic, looks somewhat like pignut hickory, but the rings are to defined! Maybe a young walnut? Like to see the bark.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: okie64 on February 04, 2011, 10:01:00 PM
I promise its the same wood. I think it looks darker in the first pics because I had just split it and the wood was really moist. After I cut this piece and sanded it lightened up the color of it quite a bit. It has pretty thick defined rings. The grain to me really looks like ash but I could be wrong. Ill get a close up pic of the bark on here in a little bit.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: okie64 on February 04, 2011, 10:54:00 PM
Frank, you can see the bark pretty good in the first pic I posted, theyre on the bottom. The log on the far left in the bottom two pics is osage if that helps for comparison.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Ricky Wallace on February 05, 2011, 12:24:00 AM
What kind of smell does it have? Sweet or flat? {if that makes any sense}
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Pat B on February 05, 2011, 09:41:00 AM
Generally mulberry will have a milky sap ooze from the cambium when cut. Might not be obvious this time of year.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: frank bullitt on February 05, 2011, 11:14:00 AM
So it's from the same log as the two it's between in first pic?

The bark is flat, weave like, with diamond pattern?
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: KY59 on February 05, 2011, 11:17:00 AM
:archer2:  It's a mulberry. I work for a tree service.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: okie64 on February 05, 2011, 11:26:00 AM
Frank, yes thats right,the splits that it is layin in between are the same log. I know what you guys are sayin about the color of the wood being like mulberry but to me the bark looks nothing like mulberry that ive seen.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: okie64 on February 05, 2011, 11:40:00 AM
Heres a new pic I took this morning. The wood has dried out a little more. Osage on top of it for comparison. (http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee503/Jamey_Burkhart/001-7.jpg)
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Sidewinder on February 05, 2011, 12:43:00 PM
I was thining its color looks like osage or mulberry and since you said it does'nt have thorns, I'm gonna say its mulberry, but thats just a guess.  Danny
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: GREG IN MALAD on February 05, 2011, 02:41:00 PM
Whatever it is, it doesn't grow native here in Idaho  :dunno:  , but if you send it to me I will build a bow and tell you if it works.  ;)
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: okie64 on February 05, 2011, 03:15:00 PM
Thanks for all the input guys. I guess Im gonna call it mulberry. I'll let it dry and see what I can do with it. Greg, if you are serious send me a pm and we'll see what we can do.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Pat B on February 05, 2011, 03:57:00 PM
For mulberry or locust you want to make it about 10% bigger all around as a similar weight osage bow. 1 1/2" to 1 3/4" wide and 64" to 66" long for 28" draw.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Hopewell Tom on February 05, 2011, 05:47:00 PM
Post a picture of a twig from the tree. Something from the crown with buds on it. That should help the ID. Or a leaf.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: frank bullitt on February 06, 2011, 03:08:00 PM
You folks who say mulberry, is it red or white?

I've never seen mulberry with that type of bark!

Heartwood is too pale for the mulberry I've cut.

How does the physical weight compare to osage, okie?
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: okie64 on February 06, 2011, 05:34:00 PM
Kinda hard to find a leaf but heres some pics of twigs that I got out of the top of the tree if that helps. (http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee503/Jamey_Burkhart/022.jpg) (http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee503/Jamey_Burkhart/020.jpg)
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Pat B on February 06, 2011, 05:55:00 PM
Not locust. Very likely mulberry.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: TroutGuide on February 07, 2011, 06:41:00 PM
I'm guessing locust but the thornless kind honey or black whitchever does not have thorns never can remenber.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Pat B on February 08, 2011, 12:43:00 AM
The buds don't look like honey locust and definately not black locust. They look very much like the mulberry in my tree book.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: Don Stokes on February 08, 2011, 09:50:00 AM
Both honey locust and black locust have thorns. Honey locust has long, branched thorns and black locust has pairs of thorns at the leaf bases. The thornless locust is a greenhouse cultivar that doesn't grow wild.

Ash has opposite branches and these are alternate, so it's not ash.
Title: Re: Tree identification help(new pic)
Post by: okie64 on February 21, 2011, 04:38:00 PM
Anybody who said mulberry was right. I took a piece of this wood to my uncle who works for a timber company and he said it was white mulberry. Actually he called it by its genus name first and when I looked at him like he was an idiot he said the common name for it is white mulberry. My grandpa called it paper mulberry. Its always amusing listening to the two of them argue over tree names, my uncle calls them by their proper names and my grandpa calls them by whatever he was taught to call them 60 years ago.