Can anyone identify this tree?

[dkadair17]

Hurricane Helene left me with widow makers to clean out on my property. I would like to know what type of hardwood this is only because I intend to make food safe products out of the broken hardwoods if possible. I did the best I could with taking pictures of the leaves as it is late November. Apologies in advance if this is the wrong forum to post this thread.

 

[carpenter32]

Looks like Beech.

 

[Oletrapper]

American Beech me thinks.

 

[diver64]

Beech. Not only good for furniture or wooden spoons but great firewood.

 

[Marley5]

Beech is my guess as well and a top tier wood for the stove.

 

[Woodtroll]

Absolutely beech. The paper-thin light brown leaves still hanging on the tree this time of year is a dead give-away, even if you couldn't see the smooth bark. Perfectly safe for food utensils. Good luck with your crafting!

 

[Del_]

Something I've noticed about beech over the years is that a small beech retains it leaves well into winter while large beeches loose their leaves way earlier. Traveling at highway speeds the small ones are easily I.D.'d in the woods at a great distance because of this. I love to see them.

Here's a beech I transplanted to our yard about 20 years ago. The photos don't do it's fall color justice.

Taken minutes ago:

 

[dboyd351]

they get big too
that's one in my avatar

 

[diver64]

they get big too
that's one in my avatar

If you want to see a real nice Beech watch The Patriot with Mel Gibson. The part where he ambushes the English with his 2 young sons to save his oldest has him hiding behind some very nice Beech.

 

[dkadair17]

Thanks for the replies. Perhaps I should have mentioned the size of the tree. My guesstimate is 70 feet tall. The trunk is about 2, maybe 2 1/2 feet in diameter, the branches that broke off during the wind storm are 10-18 inches. It is not the fastest work for my cs 590 but at least it isn't that ash tree I had to deal with by the creek.

Because of you guys I can advertise the wood type if needed. Much appreciated!

 

[dboyd351]

American beech can live up to 400 years old.
Would likely live witbout some 10-18" branches.
Might want to consider that before cutting it down, if you have not already done so.

 

[Mike Van]

Back in the day, Beech was used for mallet heads & sled runners.

 

[dkadair17]

American beech can live up to 400 years old.
Would likely live witbout some 10-18" branches.
Might want to consider that before cutting it down, if you have not already done so.

I haven't considered felling the tree. I'm only want to harvest what has been broken off due to the storm, which is more than plenty for my intention. (Many large diameter limbs). Come early summer I will check to see if it has healthy limbs and leaves or if it is dying.

 

[dboyd351]

Good luck with that. I hope you see lots of new geeenery come springtime!

 

[buzz sawyer]

Back in the day, Beech was used for mallet heads & sled runners.

As well as wood working plane bodies.

 

[Fried Chicken]

American Beech make fantastic lumber

 

[peeteek]

Beech is one of my favorite firewood here up north. I did a timber survey with a forester recently and learned that the bumps on many of the local beech trees is a symptom of the beech bark disease which came to NA in the 1970's. Many of our local beech trees have a bark with many bumps on them - and no cure, but there are some beech trees which have a resistance to this disease - which eventually weakens the tree but makes the wood not usable for lumber. Trees which are resistant should be considered to let grow as the roots from the main tree spread with other suckers which is one way beech trees reproduce. Most of the larger beech trees also have linear scratches on the bark - which are from bear claws as the bears climb to get to the beech nuts. In years with good mast crops the deer also thrive on beech nuts on the ground. So consider what beech trees provide for your local ecosystem and can provide lumber or firewood for us - they become a valuable resource to enjoy!

 

[dkadair17]

Beech is one of my favorite firewood here up north. I did a timber survey with a forester recently and learned that the bumps on many of the local beech trees is a symptom of the beech bark disease which came to NA in the 1970's. Many of our local beech trees have a bark with many bumps on them - and no cure, but there are some beech trees which have a resistance to this disease - which eventually weakens the tree but makes the wood not usable for lumber. Trees which are resistant should be considered to let grow as the roots from the main tree spread with other suckers which is one way beech trees reproduce. Most of the larger beech trees also have linear scratches on the bark - which are from bear claws as the bears climb to get to the beech nuts. In years with good mast crops the deer also thrive on beech nuts on the ground. So consider what beech trees provide for your local ecosystem and can provide lumber or firewood for us - they become a valuable resource to enjoy!

Interesting! We have plenty of whitetail on the property. (I live in the foothills of western NC). Also, I've caught black bear on cam several times and I've found bedding areas and tracks. I'll pay closer attention to the area where this tree is.

 

[lwmibc]

This is something that can be done with beech. As is typical for this site, home made, even built the sawmill to cut the slabs. Had to pay someone to plane the slabs though, my planer isn't big enough.