Mystery Tree in Nova Scotia

[TreeHuggerNS]

Hi, this is my first post, I've joined because I am looking for help in identifying a large tree in the woods behind my house. I couldn't get a really close look at the leaves since they're so far up, but I have some good close pictures of the bark. The picture with the book is a ruler in centimetres - I measured it to be about 60 cm in diameter. Thanks!



  

  

 

[beenthere]

Maybe shagbark hickory...

[Magicman]

First, Welcome to the Forestry Forum, TreeHuggerNS.  Hang around after you get your tree identified.  You just might like it here.   

Are there any nuts on the ground or in the tree?

[TreeHuggerNS]

I didn't see any nuts on the ground, but a fair amount of bark had been shed over time. My husband wondered if it might have some kind of bark disease. I thought it might be an Ash, but the bark isn't furrowed like that, it overlaps in these plates. I'm not sure if we have shagbark hickory here in Nova Scotia. There are two other trees like this one but slightly smaller in the same area.

[Magicman]

Long vertical plates peeling at the ends, plus the leaves look right.  I agree with Beenthere above.

[sandhills]

Welcome to the forum, that was my first thought also.  99.9% of what I know about trees (which isn't much) I've learned here, stick around, a lot of friendly folks with a lot of knowledge about everything hang out here 

[GAB]

I'm thinking it could be an Eastern Hop Hornbeam, aka hardhack, aka ironwood.
Gerald

[TreeHuggerNS]

I think Eastern Hop Hornbeam looks like the closest yet. I don't think it's Ash, though that was one of my first guesses, because the bark doesn't have furrows in it.

[beenthere]

Could indeed be that... pic of leaves may confirm.
Lack of hickory nuts would also confirm.  ;D

[TreeHuggerNS]

I thought maybe over the next month I might get a better chance of getting a leaf, perhaps if I'm there as they are falling I can catch one that I know for certain is from that tree, rather than a surrounding tree. Otherwise it's a bit of a climb!

[Texas Ranger]

Leaves looks pinnate compound.  'Spect no hornbeam

[TreeHuggerNS]

The thing I don't know how to tell is the difference between one compound leaf or several leaves arranged on a twig.

[beenthere]

This may help.
http://www.jaygaulard.com/eastern-hophornbeam/

[TreeHuggerNS]

Yes! I think that must be it! That book looks awesome! Thanks!

[beenthere]

Yes! I think that must be it!

I didn't see a match with the leaves... seen in the photo.

How about this link for matching up your leaves...

http://forestry.about.com/od/treeidentification/tp/tree_key_id_hicash.htm

Toss a rope with a weight on it, up into the tree and see if you can get some leaves down for a closer look.
I would use a shotgun, but that may not work for you.  ;D

[Clark]

My first inclination is ash, green or white with a nod towards white ash.

Clark

[SwampDonkey]

Plain old ash, typical bark of older ash up here. They can get pretty big long limbs in open grown conditions. Too inhospitable for hickory in the Canadian Maritimes. ;D

[snowshoveler]

SwampDonkey nailed it...ash.
Leave it alone, it has a lot of growing yet to do.
Regards Chris

[TreeHuggerNS]

I've been wondering about using rope to get up the tree. I'm definitely not a gun type, and I usually hike in a dress.