what do I have here?

[twd000]

This tree fell across the trail behind my house. Starting cutting it up to take it as firewood, but I noticed the rounds are kind of light for their size. I got a photo of the bark and a few small leaves which had begun to leaf out in March before it fell.

The sap wood is a bit punky but dry. The tree roots rotted out from standing in a year-round seep.

I brought back a round to split with a maul and it popped right open.

Should I go back and cut and haul it, or leave it to rot?

 

[barnaclebob]

Looks like it could be alder to me. Are there small grape sized pine cones laying around?

Could maybe be ash as well.

 

[twd000]

Looks like it could be alder to me. Are there small grape sized pine cones laying around?

Could maybe be ash as well.

No pine cones. Does alder's range extend to New Hampshire?

Ash- I like that answer better!

 

[barnaclebob]

I'm not sure if you guys get alder and most of it around here has smooth bark but the internet shows some pictures with the rough bark. I think one main difference is that ash appears to have smooth leaves where the edges of alder leaves are rough and ridged. Are there any dead leaves from last year?

 

[redmanlcs]

Rounds look like tulip popular to me... good for nuthin but kindling... in my opinion...... I can burn of stove load of that (during cold weather) in 20 min... then time to fill up stove again...not worth the effort unless its in your yard...

 

[showrguy]

Sassaphras ??
What's it smell like ??

 

[barnaclebob]

Sassaphras ??
What's it smell like ??

mmm, not much smells better than sassafras dirt. Brings me right back to childhood. We had a sassafras tree growing on a hill that we would dig around and make forts.

 

[jackatc1]

Ash.

As long as its on your land haul away, its one of the best.

 

[twd000]

Not tulip poplar- I know that one from my youth

Sassafras? Only time I worked with that the cambium had a strong red color, which I don't see on these rounds . And I didn't notice any strong root beer smell while I was cutting

 

[twd000]

Not sassafras- just looked up photos of sassafras leaves online; these are nothing like that. These leaves are in alternate pairs all the way down the branch

 

[billfred]

My vote is Ash. I see the small little bebe indention on the ends of the cuts.

 

[CincyBurner]

It's ash - leaves (compound), bark, wood grain, bud scars (http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/greenash). Check branching habit - ash is opposite.
Ash is good, solid burning firewood.
http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=46

 

[nrford]

ash for sure

 

[billfred]

Yes!! Finally I gave good advice instead of just asking!

 

[Bushels20]

100 % ash. Burned it almost exclusively for the last 3 years thanks to the EAB here in Ohio.