Wood identification

[yomtates]

Hi everyone , New here and would love to be apart of this group to glean some much needed information. I have been a driftwood artist for the past 30 years. Combing the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and it's tributaries. My question is  some of the wood I have a hard time putting an ID on. For example how do I tell the difference between Osage and Mulberry? I love carving them both very dense and great for putting details. They both have a really cool color when I dig into them which fades a bit by the time I finish. Is there a way to ID them? Thanks for your time.

[beenthere]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum.

Do you have a 10x hand lens? Or better yet, maybe a way to prepare a slide and use a microscope?  ;)

osage
Osage Orange | The Wood Database (Hardwood)

mulberry
Mulberry | The Wood Database (Hardwood)

[yomtates]

When I'm carving is there a characteristic  of the wood that differs between Osage and Mulberry? Sometimes I find pieces that are an electric yellow color when I first dig into them. Oder wise neither one has anything thats distinct.

[Don P]

Electric... Does mulberry glow in black light? Osage and black locust do.

[KEC]

If there is a large university with a forestry department near you, they might be able to help. When I hauled logs the mill had a tree length log come into the yard and nobody could ID it. They contacted the SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry in Syracuse, NY and they ID'd it as Hackberry, which is locally uncommon.

[Southside]

Well Mulberry will turn dark brown, think Park Service sign brown, once it's exposed to air and light.

[Texas Ranger]

Hand lens on smooth end grain is a positive ID.

[yomtates]

Thanks for the information!

[KEC]

Yomtates, Welcome to the forum and we want to hear what you determine the wood to be. And how you fiqured it out.