NJ/PA/NY Tree ID Stumper

Dutch cut · Apr 29, 2011

I am stumped by a tree I have seen in the above states over the past couple weeks. I have no picture but maybe I can describe it well enough that a local will know it. It has huge true end buds right now, large leaf scars with small roundish buds above them. I have seen a very tall one of these trees that has bark similar to a Tulip Tree, a smaller tree I saw had lightly furrowed bark that was slightly shiny, similar to a Butternut maybe. I thought maybe a type of Hickory or Buckeye?

climberjones · May 1, 2011

Dutch cut said:
I am stumped by a tree I have seen in the above states over the past couple weeks. I have no picture but maybe I can describe it well enough that a local will know it. It has huge true end buds right now, large leaf scars with small roundish buds above them. I have seen a very tall one of these trees that has bark similar to a Tulip Tree, a smaller tree I saw had lightly furrowed bark that was slightly shiny, similar to a Butternut maybe. I thought maybe a type of Hickory or Buckeye?

If it looks like a tulip and the wood is very light in weight it might be bass wood ! Need pics!

chad556 · May 1, 2011

It sounds kind of like a hickory to me Carya cordiformis or C. glabra. Those large end buds, are they a dirty golden color? If so its probably a bitternut hickory. I ran into one this winter and it totally stumped me. Thought it was a really weird black walnut.

More pics and info can be found at Carya cordiformis - bitternut hickory (Lab 9)

Hope this helps. Tree ID isn't my greatest strength but I thought I would take a crack at this one.:msp_smile:

Dutch cut · May 1, 2011

Not quite, I am now almost certain it is some type of Aesculus, but unsure of which one, I think I will have to get some pictures when I am back in the area, unless someone can suggest which one it might be based on region. Leaves will be out soon, that might help.

View attachment 182312

Twig is similar to this but the lateral buds are more rounded, the leaf scars almost seemed whorled on a couple twigs as well. I think the twig was darker as well with lenticels more obvious.

NCTREE · May 7, 2011

sure your not talking about a horse chestnut?

Dutch cut · May 7, 2011

Positive, the buds aren't sticky, the bark isn't as scaly and the lateral buds are much rounder, also the growth pattern is different, much like a Tulip Tree.