Solved!! Don't Go Barking Up the Wrong Tree

WDH · May 16, 2008, 11:47:45 AM

Here is a barky one for you. Very typical bark for this tree at this stage of growth, about 12" in DBH.........

The ridges are just starting to crack open.

Texas Ranger · May 16, 2008, 11:51:01 AM

shagbark or locust

okie · May 16, 2008, 12:43:14 PM

I believe that is hickory behind it so that is my guess, does look like some of the young locusts we have too.

Lanier_Lurker · May 16, 2008, 02:08:44 PM

I have a lot of yellow poplar in my area that look like that. Also, from what I can discern about the form of the tree from that section of trunk, it looks nice and straight with little taper. This also could point to it being yellow poplar.

WDH · May 16, 2008, 07:07:05 PM

Nope, nope, and nope. All very good observations, but all wrong. Here is a pic of the branching habit. Also typical of this species. No, not the pines! It is the tree with the branches without leaves.....

Don K · May 16, 2008, 07:24:36 PM

sourwood or either ironwood

Don

Ironwood · May 16, 2008, 08:47:16 PM

Definitely not ash. Perhaps hophornbeam?

Ironwood

WDH · May 16, 2008, 08:53:47 PM

DonK, it is not sourwood or ironwood.

Ironwood, it is not ironwood

.

This is a tough one. The bark looks different on younger trees (about 30 years old and less). This is a younger version.

This is a commercially harvested species, not one of the main ones, but not rare to see in lumber form.

Here is a hint: As you progress up the tree, the bark smooths out some and has some little bumps on it.

Dave Shepard · May 16, 2008, 08:57:35 PM

populus?

Dave

Ironwood · May 16, 2008, 09:12:09 PM

I ment the other Hornbeam, not Blue beech( American Hornbeam, Ironwood, Musclewood), BUT Eastern Hophornbeam.

I don't think Hop goes by "Ironwood"

Ironwood.

Dave Shepard · May 16, 2008, 09:14:47 PM

I'm sticking with poplar, just have to figure out which one I'm talking about. :D

Dave

Dan_Shade · May 16, 2008, 09:20:05 PM

when I doubt, I call everything red oak (but bear in mind that I've not been formally trained!)

Lanier_Lurker · May 16, 2008, 10:03:46 PM

Can I assume this tree to be in Houston County?

WDH · May 16, 2008, 10:19:13 PM

Not hophornbeam, not populous, not red oak, not anything mentioned.

I said it was a tough one.....

The pic was taken in Texas.

Lanier_Lurker · May 16, 2008, 10:22:12 PM

Quote from: WDH on May 16, 2008, 07:07:05 PM
Here is a pic of the branching habit. Also typical of this species.

Looking at that pic, I'm going to have to guess blackgum (nyssa sylvatica)

limbrat · May 17, 2008, 01:09:44 AM

Black gum

Timburr · May 17, 2008, 05:02:47 AM

Is it flavoured with a hint of lime (tilia)?

Dodgy Loner · May 17, 2008, 09:24:37 PM

Methinks the Englishman is onto something...

WDH · May 17, 2008, 09:34:48 PM

Timburr!! You are barking up the right tree :D.

Way to go ;D. Tilia it is. Good old basswood.

SOLVED!

Lanier_Lurker · May 17, 2008, 10:23:05 PM

DanG it...

I should have realized that after your emphasis on the splits in the bark.

I also should have learned better from this earlier post of mine. :(

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,28251.0.html

WDH · May 17, 2008, 10:39:16 PM

LL,

That sure was a fun post, glad you brought it back up.

I went to Dahlonega today and passed by one little arm of the lake off GA 400 except there weren't no lake, just a dry steambed

. I thought about you when I saw the sign.

Texas Ranger · May 17, 2008, 10:43:02 PM

You are one up on me, Danny, don 't believe I have ever seen a basswood in Texas.

Lanier_Lurker · May 18, 2008, 09:05:30 AM

Quote from: WDH on May 17, 2008, 10:39:16 PM
I went to Dahlonega today and passed by one little arm of the lake off GA 400 except there weren't no lake, just a dry steambed . I thought about you when I saw the sign.

Yep, you passed about a mile away from me there at exit 15. The creek you mention is between exits 15 and 16.

Dahlonega is a pretty town. I have a coworker who lives on the north side of town there and drives all the way to downtown Atlanta to work every day - about 40 more minutes on top of what I have to drive.

Dahlonega is also right on the edge of the transition from the upper piedmont to the mountains - which makes for an interesting mix of flora.

WDH · May 18, 2008, 11:22:16 AM

Quote from: Texas Ranger on May 17, 2008, 10:43:02 PM
You are one up on me, Danny, don 't believe I have ever seen a basswood in Texas.

Tex,

Yep, they are there in the Pineywoods. This tree was in San Jacinto County.

LL,

I did not realize that I was so close to your place with all the cool trees. I went to play Bluegrass music at the Mountain Festival this weekend for a friend who owns a wine tasting shop just south of town on Hwy 60. It was a fun but grueling day. Very pretty up there, but civilization is there in full force now.

SwampDonkey · May 21, 2008, 07:37:00 PM

Yeah I guessed basswood with the branching pattern and bark. But my yard trees are not splitting in the bark yet, they are still smooth and gray like beech. :D Might be starting at the very base. The prominent bark breakage is from dang sap suckers.

>:(