Wood Species ID

[WOODBUTCHER]

I know it's Birch, but since I'm the WoodBucther I like to fine tune the species.
In another thread with Stejus we are confirming that we have what my North American field guide calls "Sweet Birch" or A.k.a Black Birch/Cherry Birch.
It smells just like Birch Beer, I've been burning this stuff for years but just call it "Birch"
I'm also told that many moons ago it was tapped like a Sugar Maple and made into Birch Beer.

WoodButcher

 

[Delta-T]

I cannot claim to ID that tree for you. But I can confirm that you can indeed tap a black birch and make syrup, similar to maple. I dont know what is used to make birch beer.

 

[WoodPorn]

Definitely Black(Sweet) birch

 

[fahmahbob]

Agree. Definitely black birch.

 

[stejus]

Here's a tree that is the same as the splits in my HH Pile. Is this a Black Birch? If so, I'm psyched because I thought is was elm. Black Birch is fine with me and I have lots around the property.

 

[WoodPorn]

The bark looks like it, I can't tell on the foliage, too far away

 

[JustWood]

Here's a tree that is the same as the splits in my HH Pile. Is this a Black Birch? If so, I'm psyched because I thought is was elm. Black Birch is fine with me and I have lots around the property.

99% sure thats black birch ,but I'm not eating your swing set.

 

[stejus]

The bark looks like it, I can't tell on the foliage, too far away

Foliage

 

[JustWood]

The bark looks like it, I can't tell on the foliage, too far away

Foliage

YA YA YA YA ! If that ain't black birch I'll eat your house and swing set !

 

[WOODBUTCHER]

The bark looks like it, I can't tell on the foliage, too far away

Foliage

Break a twig, it will smell like birch beer

 

[cmonSTART]

birch beer is good stuff!

 

[Todd]

Ok I'll throw this out there. Could it be a Rowan tree? Any red berries around it. That bark looks exactly like the Rowan tree that was in my neighbors yard and I see lots around town. If it is, it's also a good hardwood.

 

[stejus]

The bark looks like it, I can't tell on the foliage, too far away

Foliage

Break a twig, it will smell like birch beer

WOODBUTCHER - Broke a twig this morning on my way to get the paper out of the box and it smells sweet like birch beer, that clear colored soda.

Todd - no red berries, we get a lot of these hanging blossoms in the spring though.

I guess the species can be called, sweet, black or cherry birch - aka (Betula lenta).

BTU Rating of 26.8 with a sweet smell, PRICELESS

 

[Wood Duck]

I think you definitely have Black Birch. Great firewood, particularly when you split the stuff and it smells like wintergreen, or whatever that smell is that black birch has. You won't confuse the smell of elm with the smell of black birch, not that elm smells bad.

 

[WoodPorn]

The bark looks like it, I can't tell on the foliage, too far away

Foliage

Ask and ye shall receive!!

Black Birch, good burnin' stuff. good for wood turning too but that's a story for another time. Congrtats on the find and enjoy!

 

[stejus]

I think you definitely have Black Birch. Great firewood, particularly when you split the stuff and it smells like wintergreen, or whatever that smell is that black birch has. You won't confuse the smell of elm with the smell of black birch, not that elm smells bad.

What does elm smell like? The leaves on the elms look similar to the birch.

 

[Bspring]

My field guide says that Sweet Birch, River Birch and Water Birch are all referred to as Black Birch. That's confusing.

 

[WOODBUTCHER]

My field guide says that Sweet Birch, River Birch and Water Birch are all referred to as Black Birch. That's confusing.

Mine says the same.....it also says

"Yellow Birch" Gray Birch
"Grey Birch" White Birch
"Paper Birch" White Birch

WB