Is this poplar?

[firefighter ontheside]

I got some logs from a tree service.  The guy told me this one was poplar. I asked if it was yellow/tulip poplar and he was sure it was.  I've never seen it in person.  He deals with a lot of planted trees, being a tree service.  So, is this yellow poplar?  If not, what might it be.?  The one in the middle.  I know what the others are. Thanks.

 

[firefighter ontheside]

I think this answers the question after I cut the end clean.


 

[barbender]

I have no yellow poplar in my area, so it's out of my realm. But that doesn't stop me from giving my opinion😁 I don't think that's poplar🤷🏽‍♂️😊

[firefighter ontheside]

I didn't think the bark looked right, but the fresh cut end looks right.  It's green in the middle.  I'll be milling it soon, so more pictures will follow.

[stavebuyer]

Not textbook typical, bark is normally a little more uniform, but the fresh cut wood favors poplar albeit open grown with that little heartwood to white wood ratio.

[firefighter ontheside]

I've never seen or cut fresh poplar.  This thing is super green in the heart.
Also, it has some epicormic sprouts.  Does poplar do that?


 

[PoginyHill]

Definitely tulip poplar (not aspen) sometimes called yellow poplar. Although not native to my area (northern New England), the mill I work at processes it routinely. It is abundant in the mid-eastern coastal states. My only hesitation is the sap ring is much wider than what I normally see. Grain, knots, and bark are consistent with tulip.

[SwampDonkey]

Them small eyes would remind me of something like a locust and might be the stipular spines that form near a lateral bud.

[firefighter ontheside]

Thank all, a text sent to Danny also confirmed that it is tulip/yellow poplar.  I'm cutting it now.  Making a lot of 4/4 x 12.  Lots of knots though, so may not be making a lot of cabinets with it.  It's really, really wet.

[barbender]

Well, if you've learned one thing here it's don't let someone from MN tell you whether you have yellow poplar or not😁

[SwampDonkey]

All of our balsam poplar of any size up here has that dark middle and white wood from there to the bark. But that is a totally different genus.  Up here we would call your poplar, tulip tree, since that is what the Latin name calls it. One of them resistance to change things. :D

[moodnacreek]

Sure looks like tulip. Bark almost like ash. About half white wood and half green heart. Traces of violet , red or purple may be seen. Does not smell anything like aspen. Is related to magnolia. Is about the largest hardwood tree in the country.

[firefighter ontheside]

I've used a ton of yellow poplar to build face frames for cabinets and bookcases, but had never seen the tree.  It's nice to cut.

[firefighter ontheside]

Well, if you've learned one thing here it's don't let someone from MN tell you whether you have yellow poplar or not😁

Lol.  Someone from MO is no better obviously.

[Don P]

Yup, its fun to cut, on the circle mill I'll often see a wave of water in front of the blade. With the demise of the chestnut it became the largest tree in the eastern forest. I've laid on stumps with room at both head and toe. It often occupies the same ground as the old chestnuts.

 The white is candy to powderpost beetles, they aren't too interested in the green heart but I borate the boards pretty quickly. It does have epicormic branch stubs just under the bark. If the bark is slipping remove some and you'll see the barbs, those things are sharp enough to take the hide off of you.

While I'm home sawing white pine for one future project my partner is home sawing poplar for the one after that. I used poplar for these windows. We have a houseful to make for that summer job.

[firefighter ontheside]

I've always seen little Birdseye looking figure poplar.  Now I know it was from the sprouts.  I finished milling that log today.  I got about sixteen 1x12's.  Good to know about the ppb.  I did spray it with borate.