What is it?

DPatton · March 23, 2019, 11:51:21 PM

I had an opportunity to score some logs from trees being cleared in my neighborhood. I'm not familiar with the one in the pics below. Any guesses from this main trunk bark pic?

Z

Or here's a peek at some branches and buds.

W

Z

Also a look at what's inside.

Z

W

F

cliffreaves · March 24, 2019, 01:13:20 AM

I would guess walnut, but I know very little.

WDH · March 24, 2019, 08:19:32 AM

Opposite branched. Ash.

DPatton · March 24, 2019, 09:41:19 AM

Danny,
I have no clue what it is but the heartwood is very dark. I've personally never seen an ash where I live with this type of color. Albeit my experience with ash is almost always green ash. This was a planted yard tree so not necessarily native to my area.

Cliffreaves,
I would say no to walnut. Yes the heartwood is similar in color to walnut but that is where similarities to the other black walnuts on this property ends as the bark, branching, and buds are different.

Southside · March 24, 2019, 10:29:03 AM

Does it stink?

DPatton · March 24, 2019, 12:07:39 PM

Quote from: Southside logger on March 24, 2019, 10:29:03 AM
Does it stink?

If it does I didn't specifically notice it.

cliffreaves · March 24, 2019, 12:09:55 PM

I learned long ago not to doubt WDH.

DPatton · March 24, 2019, 12:18:34 PM

Opposite branching puts it in the MADCap Horse category. However when I look at the new buds in photo 3 I see alternate bud growth.

WDH · March 24, 2019, 08:06:50 PM

Confusing for sure. Bark sure looks elmy. The opposite branching at the top of pic #2 may be a red herring. The key is to determine if it is really opposite branched or alternate branched.

Southside · March 24, 2019, 08:33:27 PM

Quote from: DPatton on March 24, 2019, 12:07:39 PM
Quote from: Southside logger on March 24, 2019, 10:29:03 AM
Does it stink?
If it does I didn't specifically notice it.

Guess I need to ask how bad do you stink then? :D

DPatton · March 24, 2019, 08:50:40 PM

:D :D :D Depends who you ask southside.

hacknchop · March 24, 2019, 10:20:33 PM

"Looks like some of the Elm we have around here" not.
I like to say that cause where I am Elm is scarce most guys don't recognize it, and if I keep saying Elm someday I might be right.
You what Dr Phil says "even a broken clock is right twice a day "sounds like good odds to me.

stavebuyer · March 25, 2019, 05:42:05 AM

Its walnut.

square1 · March 25, 2019, 06:11:05 AM

Draw a knife on edge across the bark. If it's dark underneath it's walnut. Buds look altetnate, also would make walnut a possibilty. Twigs look to thick to be elm from around here anyway.

WDH · March 25, 2019, 07:45:16 AM

Good point on the stoutness of the limbs.

If walnut, split a twig and the pith will be chambered with obvious dividers. The inner bark will be bright sulfur yellow. Stavebuyer may be right about walnut. If so, that pith will be noticeable chambered. Easy to check. Also, in the first pic, the inner bark does appear to be bright yellow.

pith in black walnut - Google Search

scsmith42 · March 25, 2019, 08:30:48 AM

Sure looks like black walnut to me, but I'm not one to go against Danny!

One thing that struck me was how far off center the pith is in the photo that you posted. Looks like either limb wood or an extreme leaner.

TKehl · March 25, 2019, 09:15:50 AM

Siberian Elm can have bark and color like that. But the twigs are WAY off. They sure look like Walnut to me with the thickness and sparsity. The Siberian Elm would have numerous slender tips. The bark cross section is also very dark like Walnut, which I think is lighter in Siberian Elm (only cut a few and never looked real close though).

I'm voting Walnut with maybe 75% confidence level.

Wouldn't be the first one to fool me with weird bark. ;)

Southside · March 25, 2019, 09:21:12 AM

Quote from: WDH on March 24, 2019, 08:19:32 AM
Opposite branched. Ash.

Wait!! Is't always Ash. Now you say Walnut --- How can it be? This is the only thing that comes to mind... :D

Mass Hysteria

timberking · March 25, 2019, 11:11:32 AM

My eyes saw walnut and splitting the twig will confirm or not.

Woodpecker52 · March 25, 2019, 04:07:50 PM

Looks like walnut, IDing will all become clearer in about 2 weeks when the leaves come out .

KEC · March 25, 2019, 08:59:02 PM

The last 2 photos appear to be of 2 different species, one of which looks like walnut.

WDH · March 25, 2019, 10:09:57 PM

Just one simple twig split at the pith. "Just one simple twig", he said.

DPatton · March 25, 2019, 10:29:06 PM

Quote from: KEC on March 25, 2019, 08:59:02 PM
The last 2 photos appear to be of 2 different species, one of which looks like walnut.

Nope, I guarantee that they are both from the same main stem of the tree. The big single log end was just 4'-5' below the multi crotch piece in the picture before it.

low_48 · March 26, 2019, 11:30:38 PM

My Dad would have called it Pi double S Elm.

DPatton · March 27, 2019, 10:42:11 AM

Quote from: WDH on March 25, 2019, 10:09:57 PM
Just one simple twig split at the pith. "Just one simple twig", he said.

I hear ya knocking big guy but I'm afraid were all going to have to wait till I can split the pith on the log. The excavation contractor pushed all of the brush into a pile the day after I cut the logs. I will take pictures and update you all then.