Help with Tree ID!

[cocey2002]

I think it is possibly a Birch tree. Leaves are all off so I didn't get to see one of those. It's growing in my swampy woods. Any help appreciated.

 

[Jags]

Birch!

 

[smokinj]

birch

 

[cocey2002]

Any particular type of Birch?

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Possibly a young Black Birch or "Cherry" Birch as we call it.

 

[cocey2002]

Awesome- Thanks

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Break off a twig and scratch through the bark with your fingernail. If it smells like rootbeer and wintergreen, then it's black birch. If not, maybe grey birch.

 

[CowboyAndy]

It looks more like grey to me, usually pretty similar to young sugar maple. When I first started cutting wood and leaerning about trees I would confuse the 2 all the time.

 

[cocey2002]

Break off a twig and scratch through the bark with your fingernail. If it smells like rootbeer and wintergreen, then it's black birch. If not, maybe grey birch.

I do smell a faint wintergreen scent.

Eitherway I guess it is good firewood to mix in with oak.

 

[Corey]

If it's black birch, could be as good or better than oak! Gray birch - not so much, but it would still burn!

Black Birch 27 MBTU/cord
Gray Birch 20 MBTU/cord

White Oak 26 MBTU/cord
Red Oak 24 MBTU/cord

 

[cocey2002]

Here is another pic of the same type of birch 10 ft away. Maybe a better indicator of black or gray?

 

[PA. Woodsman]

I'm still thinking Black Birch...like I said also known as "Cherry" or "Sweet" Birch. Like Adios said you'll notice a terrific "wintergreen" aroma to it, and it's a fairly common Pennsylvania tree. Very good fuelwood; I also like it for kindling as it ignites easily-good stuff!

 

[fugazi42]

It's Black Birch, Betula lenta, no doubt. Gray Birch, Betula populifolia, doesn't get that big. Gray birch also doesn't have those horizontal ridges that are typical of black birch. Black Birch makes excellent firewood. It dries vary fast, and burns incredibly well. It's my favorite firewood!

Josh

 

[cocey2002]

Thats great news- thanks guys!