Wood ID?

[BamaScroungr]

Found a few logs of this on the side of the road.

 

[gzecc]

In central NJ that looks like Black Birch or cherry. Does it smell like root beer?

 

[BamaScroungr]

In central NJ that looks like Black Birch or cherry. Does it smell like root beer?

I haven't split it yet, but I'll let you know.

 

[Tom123]

I split about 1/2 cord of black birch today, great stuff.

 

[saewoody]

Looks like birch to me too.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Pin Cherry

 

[BamaScroungr]

I've seen black birch and I don't think this is birch. Never dealt with cherry, but the wood doesn't seem dark enough? I could be wrong.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

I've seen black birch and I don't think this is birch. Never dealt with cherry, but the wood doesn't seem dark enough? I could be wrong.

Read the post above yours.....

 

[begreen]

Pin Cherry

^^This^^

 

[johneh]

If you were up here in the great white north
That would be Cherry because we do not have black birch

 

[BamaScroungr]

Well I'd be perfectly happy with cherry, I've heard nothing but good things about it here!

 

[CincyBurner]

My guess is pin cherry.
The southern tip of growing ranges for both pin cherry and black birch is in OP's area of Huntsville AL.

An excellent identifying and (distinguishing) characteristic for both black or sweet birch (Betula lenta), and also for yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis) is its wintergreen smell from wintergreen oil (methyl salicylate, think Ben-Gay ointment). Methyl salicylate is also found in teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens).
When cherry (Prunus) twig is scratched/ bruised it will have smell varying from bitter to almond, but definitely not the pleasant wintergreen smell.
So next time out scratch and sniff some twigs.