Wood ID Please

I have several of these trees in my back yard and I may be taking some of them down to get more sun. I have no idea what they are.... At first I thought Elm, but the tree lacks the saw tooth leaf typically seen on an Elm tree. Trunk is about 14 inches in diameter and wood is heavy and dense. WLooks like white oak but it seems to be more heavy. Biggest one is about 60 feet tall. Leaves are about two inches long and a bit shiny. Any ideas ? I think it will make some good firewood but I would like to know what I have... Thanks ! Joe

The leaves and the structure of the tree look like Black Gum. The bark doesn't look quite right for Black Gum but I guess it could be a regional difference. I have not burned Black Gum or processed any into firewood. It is fairly common here in central PA. It is the first tree to turn color in the fall and turns a bright red. The fruit, which should be on the tree now, are a favorite of the birds.

Black Gum. Only other would be dogwood, but the branches on 90 deg. angle like that says gum. Good luck splitting!

Here's some shots from Yahoo of black gum. Looks like that could be right on.

You might need more than a Fiskars for that stuff going by some comments on this board over the years, Ive never had the fortune to split any myself.

Thanks Guy's - I was really leaming toward Black Gum but then I noticed today that the tree is void of any fruit. Black Gum is supposed to have a blueish black fruit isn't it ?

It's not oak. I am for sure.

KC

Black Gum for sure.................not all trees will bare fruit and from year to year the yield will very greatly