The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Tree, Plant and Wood I.D. => Topic started by: crmorse on July 15, 2020, 02:45:33 PM

Title: What are these?
Post by: crmorse on July 15, 2020, 02:45:33 PM
I did some cruising today on what will be my next phase of the garden. Most everything there is tiny stuff and privet. There’s a few decent maples in there but just about anything over 12” DBH is Poplar or Sweetgum.

I did run across these that I can’t identify:

Tree 1: I got nothing...
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/59115/C23E0076-09F9-4C9B-B182-0002371F7706.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1594838502)




Tree 2: Leaves look like maple family to me but the bark doesn't.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/59115/21E0A174-9FE5-43C7-A8AA-F4D5896D6795.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1594838494)



Tree 3: Deep blocky bark pennate (looks like alternate) leaves 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/59115/6016E7BE-0A38-4686-B1A6-8787CF7B6D08.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1594838488)



Tree 4: This one has sharp narrow leaves unlike anything I've seen around here. (NE Alabama) 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/59115/C901383D-4C84-4D92-ADDE-324F64C865B1.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1594838494)
 
Title: Re: What are these?
Post by: firefighter ontheside on July 15, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
3 looks like the bark of persimmon.

Probably need better close ups of leaves for others.
Title: Re: What are these?
Post by: WDH on July 15, 2020, 08:18:01 PM
Can't tell much about #1.  #2 is red maple.  FFOTS is right about #3 being persimmon (that is a very nice one!).  Hard to tell for sure but #4 looks like ash.  Need close up pic of leaves and bark.  Do same for #1 too.
Title: Re: What are these?
Post by: GullyBog on July 15, 2020, 10:26:22 PM
#1 may be red cedar, Juniperus virginiana, my favorite tree.
Title: Re: What are these?
Post by: WV Sawmiller on July 16, 2020, 09:45:37 AM
   I can't see #1 being cedar with leaves instead of needles so unless that tree is wrapped up in vines it looks like a hardwood to me. Sorry Gully.  :( You can put your bib away and quit drooling. :D Better luck next time. ;)
Title: Re: What are these?
Post by: crmorse on July 16, 2020, 10:14:11 PM
So it turns out I screwed up the pictures (dump iPhone and it's crooked pics) and trees 1 & 2 are the same one.  Identified here as Red Maple.

#3 is definitely Persimmon. After the ident here I looked up details and now I'm seeing them all over the property (yay!) and one nice one is dropping fruit by the road.  

#4 I will get a close up of the leaves as soon as I can. Probably fly the drone for that one.... Fun!

Thanks ya'll! 

Side Question 1: How can I tell the difference between Red Maple and Silver Maple?

Side Question 2: Is sweetgum actually worth sawing up for anything? Most of my land was clearcut before I bought it so not a lot of big trees around. However, I've got plenty of Yellow Pine, Poplar, and Sweetgum.  I already know I have no use for sawing up the first two but no idea about Sweetgum.
Title: Re: What are these?
Post by: Southside on July 16, 2020, 11:55:03 PM
Gum with good heart is beautiful. Quarter sawn it behaves fairly well. 
Title: Re: What are these?
Post by: WDH on July 17, 2020, 07:22:30 AM
Flatsawn sweetgum will twist and warp very badly.  Like Mr. Backside said, quartersaw it.

Silver maple is 5-lobed with a long terminal lobe.  The margins on the leaf between the lobes are toothed.  The margins between the lobes of red maple are also toothed, but the the leaf is almost always 3-lobed and the terminal lobe is short and shallow.  Sugar maple leaves are also 5-lobed, but the margins of the leaf between the lobes are entire (not toothed). 

Title: Re: What are these?
Post by: crmorse on July 21, 2020, 03:26:23 PM
Closeup of leaves of #4.  Pennate opposite. Smooth bark with mottle. If it weren't for the different leaves I'd think it was a maple

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/59115/DJI_0002.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1595359418)
 

Unless whatever this is is typically a very late bloomer I think it's distressed. It didn't have the first leaf out yet in spring when everything else was already fully clothed. I was going to cut it down but got busy with the garden and by then it had leafed out. But if it's sick, I'll go ahead and pull it this winter.