Wood ID with bark, Saginaw Valley area MI

[thechknhwk]

This tree came from the flood plain of a creek bottom in the Saginaw Valley region of Michigan, lower peninsula.  I initially thought it was white oak due to the wood coloration and the bark threw me off a bit, but after sawing it realized it was not.  It kinda smelled like cotton wood, but seems harder, and is very stringy when split.  Matter of fact this piece is pretty dry and only about ~2" thick and will not split with a hatchet.

[Axe Handle Hound]

I would say you have a piece of elm based on the photos and your description.

[thecfarm]

ironwood,American hornbeam,

[beenthere]

How about a good, clear pic of a fresh, clean end cut (across the grain) by a sharp blade so we can see the wood structure much better.
thanks

[SPIKER]

I dont think it is Hornbeam usually bark on those will have stringy bits hanging off.  Here is Ohio Hop Hornbeam taken at my place.   Usually understory trees BUT Will get bigger & makes pretty good firewood.   Cuts OK but do to limited size usually not used for a lot..   Some on my place are 14" BUT also mostly hollow.



Mark

[WDH]

Looks elmy to me, too.  Those light streaks that you can see in the cross section of the bark are characteristic of american elm.   It is called the rhytidome.