Newbie Tree Id

[indiana4spartans]

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...

 

[indiana4spartans]

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!

 

[PA. Woodsman]

I say Sassafrass for the first one, Maple for the second....

 

[smokinj]

I say Sassafrass for the first one, Maple for the second....

+1 thats my best answer as well

 

[indiana4spartans]

Is it possible to know what kind of maple or does it make a difference?

 

[smokinj]

Is it possible to know what kind of maple or does it make a difference?

its not silver maple (softwood) its a hard maple

 

[Jags]

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.

 

[smokinj]

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.

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.

 

[Jags]

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.

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.

Ok. Then I'm going with cottonass for the first one.

 

[JustWood]

i thinx 1st 1 is black low cussed.
2nd 1 is Bass wood. MMmMmMMMMM Hmm MMMMM!
me thinx!

 

[Wood Duck]

I don' t think the second one looks like maple. The first could be sassafras, i think

 

[gzecc]

I agree on the first- black locust. Very dry, looks to be ready for the stove!

 

[indiana4spartans]

I agree on the first- black locust. Very dry, looks to be ready for the stove!

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?

 

[Jags]

Black locust bark (taken from: (broken link removed to http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/rops.htm) )

 

[Jags]

Black cottonwood Bark: (old stem and young stem)

Dunno -

 

[Jags]

Sassafras Bark pic:

 

[PA. Woodsman]

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...

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??

 

[JustWood]

I agree on the first- black locust. Very dry, looks to be ready for the stove!

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?

MayB cucumber,,,, but 1st guess is bass wood.

 

[berlin]

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.

 

[JustWood]

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.

2 diff trees dingus Better get better reading specs!

 

[berlin]

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

 

[JustWood]

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

Guess I shuld have called you dingus when i pm'd you several times on the coal forum. Wood'uv got a response.

 

[indiana4spartans]

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...

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??

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

 

[PA. Woodsman]

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...

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??

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

That would pretty much rule out Sassafrass and Poplar as they are very light when dry; perhaps it IS Locust?,,,,

 

[Hurricane]

My guesses are locust and poplar. I am more certain of the locust. The poplar after it is seasoned will be real light.