Help with tree ID

[john84]

Can someone help me ID this tree, I know it's a bad time of year because there are no leaves on it. It has large green leaves and drops berries that look like long strawberries.

 

[Kevin Weis]

Okay need to look at buds, leaf scars and so forth. But right off long shot is Tulip Poplar with that long straight trunk.

 

[Kevin Weis]

Can say Poison Ivy is on it though.

 

[john84]

There is certainly plenty of that in Massachusetts. I have 3 of these trees in my yard, I haven't seen them anywhere else in my area.

Driving me nuts not being able to ID it.

 

[tadmaz]

Long raspberries you mean? Mulberry?

 

[john84]

The never turn black, mulberries change in color correct? The ones on this tree are light red almost pink

 

[tadmaz]

Correct. Does this look familiar?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liriodendron_tulipifera#/media/File:Liriodendron-tulipifera-bud.jpg

 

[Woody5506]

Not mulberry. I am interested though to hear what people come up with for this one.

 

[john84]

Here is a pic I took last year

 

[tadmaz]

Kousa dogwood? Those aren't supposed to get that big though.

 

[jetsam]

Tulip poplar 'fruits' (unopened flowers) are smooth and look like small pickles more than anything.

I have no clue what I am looking at in the photo. It looks like prickly pear cactus.

 

[TreePointer]

I don't recall seeing any fruit like it in my area. It might be some type of magnolia.

 

[jetsam]

That does look a little like a magnolia fruit but the tree doesn't look like a magnolia... though maybe it grew so straight and tall and branchless because of the overshadowing pines?

 

[john84]

I have 3 like that all straight as an arrow, the one in my backyard is the biggest. Any idea on resources to ID this tree?

 

[armanidog]

That does look a little like a magnolia fruit but the tree doesn't look like a magnolia... though maybe it grew so straight and tall and branchless because of the overshadowing pines?

According to "Trees of North America", it may be a cucumber tree ( magnolia acuminata ) going by the fruit and bark. It is the northern-most magnolia in North America. They are also native to Canada.
The fruit looks like a warty cucumber and turns red at maturity.

This site has some good photos:
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/magnolia-acuminata

 

[john84]

Thank you, I think that might be it

 

[lost in the woods]

yes im going with cucumber! we call em pickle trees hahaha. very close to poplar(liriodendron tulipifora) in appearance . actually at the sawmill, we saw the cucumber along with the yellow poplar when we make a run of poplar lumber. only the best most experienced lumber graders can ID the cucumber lumber apart from the poplar.

 

[ValleyCottageSplitter]

That is a good find. Never heard of that one. According to Wikipedia MA is outside it's normal range. Unfortunately the wood does not look very dense. Slightly higher than tulip poplar. https://www.wood-database.com/cucumbertree/

 

[CincyBurner]

+4 for cucumber magnolia (Magnolia acuminata).
https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/magnolia/acuminata/
http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=5

The pic of the ripened fruit combined with its large tree size and form (tall, straight trunk) make it a ringer for M.acuminata. It along with tulip-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) are the only shade tree sized magnolias.
It's natural distribution is along the Appalachians (it's favors sites mixed mesophytic sites - well-drained, deep soils of sheltered mountain coves).
Not found in pure stands, but is sporadic within its range and habitat.
It's not popularly planted as a landscape specimen, but as a magnolia it does have a number of cultivated varieties, some hybridized with other magnolias.
I have one in my yard, but soil and climate in southwest Ohio aren't conducive to good growth.

 

[john84]

Thanks for all the information that was posted. Nice to know what it is.

 

[Kevin Weis]

Cucumber is seen mostly with older landscape plantings in this area. Tree identification in school got most of us on that one.