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.
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) (https://www.wood-database.com/osage-orange/)
mulberry
Mulberry | The Wood Database (Hardwood) (https://www.wood-database.com/mulberry/)
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.
Electric... Does mulberry glow in black light? Osage and black locust do.
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.
Well Mulberry will turn dark brown, think Park Service sign brown, once it's exposed to air and light.
Hand lens on smooth end grain is a positive ID.
Thanks for the information!
Yomtates, Welcome to the forum and we want to hear what you determine the wood to be. And how you fiqured it out.