Verbal Wood ID (no pics)

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
W

woodconvert

Minister of Fire
Hearth Supporter
May 24, 2007
818
Fenton Michigan
I cut a few trees for a guy that at first glance looked like a locust tree but the bark was not as furrowed. The leafs were similar and I noticed the tree dropped long brown pods. The wood is brown in color and when cut, it GUSHED water/sap. I tried to ID it from a book and the interweb but I didn't see anything like it.

These trees were in a stand of locust.
 
elm frist choice and maybe walnut
 
smokinj said:
elm frist choice and maybe walnut
Click to expand...

It's not a walnut for sure. I was thinking it was some kind of elm as it looks like all the similar trees in the area were dying. Their canopies were browning and losing their leafs....but it didn't have the typical bore holes in the base of the tree nor did the bark match to any elm i've cut before.
 
If the tree had leaves like a locust and generally looked like a locust but didn't have bark as furrowed as other locusts, then I guess it was a locust with slightly odd bark. I think elm leaves would be different enough that you'd notice the difference right away. Not sure what to make of the gushing water part...
 
woodconvert said:
smokinj said:
elm frist choice and maybe walnut
Click to expand...

It's not a walnut for sure. I was thinking it was some kind of elm as it looks like all the similar trees in the area were dying. Their canopies were browning and losing their leafs....but it didn't have the typical bore holes in the base of the tree nor did the bark match to any elm i've cut before.
Click to expand...

best guess elm/ locust but jags could be right?
 
The trees that has that kind of leaf pattern with pods is honey locust, black locust, Kentucky coffeetree and mimosa. Mimosa does have smooth bark but it flowers during the summer. I am thinking an immature locust.
 
Locust is a pretty unique leaf - JB pretty much summed up those trees. I was thinking Mimosa - but those are usually fairly small and ornamental type trees which I wouldn't think likely to just 'grow' out in a stand of locust.
 
have you split any? That should confirm or deny if it's elm , elm is very stringy and you almost have to tear some of the splits apart. Locust often snaps apart and you only have to run the ram 1/2 thru the wood and it's split all the way down.
 
It had long brown pods. Our elm does not have long brown pods but it surely can drip with sap!
 
I have lots of locust in my wood pile. Is it yellowish when split? A lot of the locust trees by me have smoother bark then i see in pictures. Someone told me it's some kind of hybrid locust.
 
Tony H said:
have you split any? That should confirm or deny if it's elm , elm is very stringy and you almost have to tear some of the splits apart. Locust often snaps apart and you only have to run the ram 1/2 thru the wood and it's split all the way down.
Click to expand...

Yes, splits easy. It's not an elm...or one that i've ever come across. The locust i've cut and split looks almost green when fresh cut but dries kind of yellow. This wood is cinnamon colored...but MAN does it hold the water and sap.

I'll take some pics.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

stoveliker
Another wood ID
Replies
12
Views
545
The Wood Shed
BigJ273
BigJ273
P
Squirting Sugar Maples
Replies
6
Views
554
The Wood Shed
Max W
Max W
D
Wood ID. Bradford Pear?
Replies
16
Views
960
The Wood Shed
vbu
vbu
D
Is this Honey Locust? Or something else
Replies
14
Views
1K
The Wood Shed
bigealta
bigealta
erice
Is it safe to store wood with minor carpenter ant infestation on concrete near house?
Replies
6
Views
1K
The Wood Shed
Dunmyermowingllc
Dunmyermowingllc
Top Bottom
Back