The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Tree, Plant and Wood I.D. => Topic started by: Old saw fixer on March 18, 2022, 01:44:37 PM

Title: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: Old saw fixer on March 18, 2022, 01:44:37 PM
 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/57231/blocks.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1647006847)
 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/57231/tree_blossoms.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1647054635)
 Triple trunk tree fell in ice storm.  When standing had growth habit like elm.  Easy to cut, not difficult to split. No strange odor when cut, smelled mild. 
We'd like to know what it is, as nephew has plans to burn it.  He isn't too upset if it's not the best fuel.
Thanks.
I had this in another place on this forum, it got 64 views and no replies.  Thought I'd try putting in the correct place!
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: KEC on March 18, 2022, 09:27:38 PM
I want to say it may be basswood, not sure. Where's WDH ?
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: WDH on March 18, 2022, 10:42:45 PM
Here I am.  The buds certainly look right for basswood. 
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: SwampDonkey on March 19, 2022, 05:38:07 AM
Flowering don't look right, kinda early in the year, and no bracts. And they always flower after leaf out. Seems elmish. ;)

Basswood flowers


(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11009/SD_AB-flowers.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1192063080)


Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: WDH on March 19, 2022, 08:11:54 AM
Could be that the buds are fat because they are about to break.  A closeup pic of the endgrain would rule out one or the other.  In the OP's pics, the wood does not look ring porous, but that could be from the faraway pic. 
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: Old saw fixer on March 19, 2022, 11:11:57 AM
Closer pics coming!
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: Old saw fixer on March 19, 2022, 04:18:19 PM
Close up pic
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/57231/Mystery_tree~0.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1647721009)
 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/57231/Mystery_tree_28229~0.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1647721005)
 Closer pic
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: beenthere on March 19, 2022, 04:55:10 PM
Looks like elm, albeit the wavy parenchyma are a bit blurry
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: WDH on March 19, 2022, 09:36:51 PM
Yep, Swampdonkey nailed it.  Definitely ring porous and the wavy bands of latewood pores are there. 
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: Old saw fixer on March 20, 2022, 09:45:03 AM
So it is an elm of some type, when the leaves come out we'll get a better idea.  There was another elm on the property years ago that fell, maybe from wind.  Back when we used a blue XL12 and a Super XL.
Thanks to all for the time and knowledge.
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: SwampDonkey on March 20, 2022, 09:49:43 AM
Of course wood is like finger prints, but other parts sometimes help a lot. ;)
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: Southside on March 20, 2022, 03:45:18 PM
But you said it's easy to split. That dosen't add up with Elm
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: Old saw fixer on March 20, 2022, 04:14:22 PM
You are correct, Southside.  Elm is hard to split, but this didn't seem hard.  When the leaves come out I'll post a pic. 
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: SwampDonkey on March 20, 2022, 04:16:52 PM
Here is American Elm flowers


(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11009/american-elm-flowers.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1647807392)


Not necessarily American elm, there are other species in the group that we don't have up this far.
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: SwampDonkey on March 20, 2022, 04:19:17 PM
Don't know of any other wood with wavy end grain and ring porous. It's also one of the earliest trees to flower. And they flower before leaves ever come out. No one uses it much around here, but they must out on the prairie because there were signs everywhere about not moving elm firewood when I drove from Manitoba to Alberta.
Title: Re: Mystery tree ID please
Post by: beenthere on March 20, 2022, 06:16:09 PM
Quote from: Old saw fixer on March 20, 2022, 04:14:22 PM
You are correct, Southside.  Elm is hard to split, but this didn't seem hard.  When the leaves come out I'll post a pic.
Not all elm is hard to split. Most is, but not all.  I've had black walnut that is harder to split (by hand splitting maul) than some elm.