Newbie Tree Id

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indiana4spartans

indiana4spartans

Member
Nov 19, 2009
70
N. Indiana
Been a lurker for awhile, site has been a huge help and a lot of information. Just installed a Napoleon 1101 insert this fall. Pleased so far. I know its not top of the line, but it was what we could afford and we run a geothermal too, so we don't intend to heat alone with it.

So I digress. Been cutting wood on our property for awhile and really want to learn what I'm cutting so I can put some good stuff in this thing. I'm going to show two down trees I've been cutting and splitting to see what you all think. I'm very appreciative for the help and will probably post more later.

This first tree (no leaves - everything I've been cutting is down or dead) had a lot of yellow in the splits and a sweeter smell. I've got more of it I can cut up if its good...
 

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My second tree - had a very white grain and the bark had a reddish tint to it on the splits.

Thanks so much for helping me out - I'd love to know what resources I could get (websites, books) to help me in this Tree ID process!
 

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PA. Woodsman said:
I say Sassafrass for the first one, Maple for the second....
Click to expand...


+1 thats my best answer as well
 
Is it possible to know what kind of maple or does it make a difference?
 
indiana4spartans said:
Is it possible to know what kind of maple or does it make a difference?
Click to expand...

its not silver maple (softwood) its a hard maple
 
I agree that it looks like sas and hard maple...BUT...is sas a common tree in Indiana. Its not so much around here.

Edit: Naaaa...the first one is cotton wood.
 
Jags said:
I agree that it looks like sas and hard maple...BUT...is sas a common tree in Indiana. Its not so much around here.

Edit: Naaaa...the first one is cotton wood.
Click to expand...
yes it is jags you can find it in most woods around here,dont usally find cotton wood in woods its more out in the open.
 
smokinjay said:
Jags said:
I agree that it looks like sas and hard maple...BUT...is sas a common tree in Indiana. Its not so much around here.

Edit: Naaaa...the first one is cotton wood.
Click to expand...
yes it is jags you can find it in most woods around here,dont usally find cotton wood in there its more out in the open.
Click to expand...

Ok. Then I'm going with cottonass for the first one.
 
I don' t think the second one looks like maple. The first could be sassafras, i think
 
I agree on the first- black locust. Very dry, looks to be ready for the stove!
 
gzecc said:
I agree on the first- black locust. Very dry, looks to be ready for the stove!
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I was hoping it might be locust - that was my first thought after scrounging the internet for pictures. It has a nice seasoned ring to it, so I might throw a few pieces in to see how they burn.

Basswood on the second? Bummer - I hope not cause there is a lot more I could cut up. Anyway to make sure?
 

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Black cottonwood Bark: (old stem and young stem)

Dunno -
 

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indiana4spartans said:
This first tree (no leaves - everything I've been cutting is down or dead) had a lot of yellow in the splits and a sweeter smell. I've got more of it I can cut up if its good...
Click to expand...



First tree had a lot of yellow and a sweeter smell-this is why I thought Sassy because of the sweeter smell, but looking at the bark, and reading a lot of yellow in it, could the first one be Poplar? How heavy is the first one? Sassafrass and Poplar will be very light, Black Locust will be noticably heavier. And I've never yet heard anyone refer to Black Locust as a "sweeter smell" but hey who knows??
 
indiana4spartans said:
gzecc said:
I agree on the first- black locust. Very dry, looks to be ready for the stove!
Click to expand...

I was hoping it might be locust - that was my first thought after scrounging the internet for pictures. It has a nice seasoned ring to it, so I might throw a few pieces in to see how they burn.

Basswood on the second? Bummer - I hope not cause there is a lot more I could cut up. Anyway to make sure?
Click to expand...

MayB cucumber,,,, but 1st guess is bass wood.
 
that vanderbilt site does not impress me. it seems that some of the pics, for example the one you've posted, are not of black locust. I would put money on it. some of the other pics on that site are, however, definately black locust. Black locust doesn't get more than 8" in diameter w/out deeply furrowed bark, it has more of an X pattern and rarely if ever does it really "peel".

btw, the first pic of the trunk definately looks like Black locust, the second pic of the trunk looks like ash, the bark on the splits in your second post doesn't match the bark on the tree.
 
berlin said:
that vanderbilt site does not impress me. it seems that some of the pics, for example the one you've posted, are not of black locust. I would put money on it. some of the other pics on that site are, however, definately black locust. Black locust doesn't get more than 8" in diameter w/out deeply furrowed bark, it has more of an X pattern and rarely if ever does it really "peel".

btw, the first pic of the trunk definately looks like Black locust, the second pic of the trunk looks like ash, the bark on the splits in your second post doesn't match the bark on the tree.
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2 diff trees dingus!!!!!! Better get better reading specs!
 
I didn't read his post as carefully as I should have; it is usually the case that someone posts multiple pics of the same tree, sometimes standing and then split to help people on this forum arrive at an accurate ID, what the OP did is unusual because two pics are of the same tree and then the tree standing is not.

BTW, "dingus" really? Go to Hell
 
berlin said:
I didn't read his post as carefully as I should have; it is usually the case that someone posts multiple pics of the same tree, sometimes standing and then split to help people on this forum arrive at an accurate ID, what the OP did is unusual because two pics are of the same tree and then the tree standing is not.

BTW, "dingus" really? Go to Hell
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Guess I shuld have called you dingus when i pm'd you several times on the coal forum. Wood'uv got a response.
 
PA. Woodsman said:
indiana4spartans said:
This first tree (no leaves - everything I've been cutting is down or dead) had a lot of yellow in the splits and a sweeter smell. I've got more of it I can cut up if its good...
Click to expand...



First tree had a lot of yellow and a sweeter smell-this is why I thought Sassy because of the sweeter smell, but looking at the bark, and reading a lot of yellow in it, could the first one be Poplar? How heavy is the first one? Sassafrass and Poplar will be very light, Black Locust will be noticably heavier. And I've never yet heard anyone refer to Black Locust as a "sweeter smell" but hey who knows??
Click to expand...

The splits are noticeably heavier than anything else I'm working with right now - seem to be very dense.
 
indiana4spartans said:
PA. Woodsman said:
indiana4spartans said:
This first tree (no leaves - everything I've been cutting is down or dead) had a lot of yellow in the splits and a sweeter smell. I've got more of it I can cut up if its good...
Click to expand...



First tree had a lot of yellow and a sweeter smell-this is why I thought Sassy because of the sweeter smell, but looking at the bark, and reading a lot of yellow in it, could the first one be Poplar? How heavy is the first one? Sassafrass and Poplar will be very light, Black Locust will be noticably heavier. And I've never yet heard anyone refer to Black Locust as a "sweeter smell" but hey who knows??
Click to expand...

The splits are noticeably heavier than anything else I'm working with right now - seem to be very dense.
Click to expand...


That would pretty much rule out Sassafrass and Poplar as they are very light when dry; perhaps it IS Locust?,,,,
 
My guesses are locust and poplar. I am more certain of the locust. The poplar after it is seasoned will be real light.
 
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