Tree ID

[Gord]

cottonwood

 

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Mystery Tree Trunk Pic

Here's the second pic. Okay, what do you think we have here?

 

[tawilson]

Bark looks just like my biggest basswood's bark. Buds fit the profile. I don't know what basswood's wood is like, never cut one to my knowledge.

 

[Climber2]

Basswood's wood is white but the twigs aren't as thick.

Mike

 

[okietreedude1]

I again vote cottonwood. Especially from looking at the twig pics.

We dont keep a stick of cottonwood we cut (and we cut a lot of it).

 

[Joe]

I'm with Gord. It looks like a cottonwood.

Joe(I've posted enough for the month)

 

[DPDISXR4Ti]

The votes certainly seem to indicate (generally useless) Cottonwood, so I guess I won't be cutting any more of this up. Thanks for the education - hope I provided some entertainment with the mystery factor!

 

[tawilson]

I do believe that big "basswood" down by the lake is a cottonwood. Bark is identical to the picture you posted, and I found that cottonwood like to be next to streams and such. It's about 50" dbh and probably too big to be a basswood anyways. I've been curious about it, and didn't realize cottonwoods grew in these here parts. I'll be able to positively identify it when the leaves come out. Thanks for this thread. Since acquiring this property that has been in the family for generations, I'm actively trying to learn more about the trees on it, how to care for them, and what uses they may have.

 

[arboromega]

white wood, deep furrows, tall with branches high up, what color was the bark...a light ashy color. is it a tulip poplar. if the wood was soaking wet when you cut it this may be you tree.

 

[Gord]

if you're in the states or canada you're never too far from native cottonwood territory.

 

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Originally posted by arboromega
white wood, deep furrows, tall with branches high up, what color was the bark...a light ashy color. is it a tulip poplar. if the wood was soaking wet when you cut it this may be you tree.

It was pretty much as you describe, but the bark had a distinctive greenish cast, especially up top where the branches are 3-4" in diameter. Also, the wood was not soaking wet when cut, even though the ground is typically wet in the area it was cut. I've seen Tuliptrees, and while this one does have similar qualities, I'm going with the popular decision of Cottonwood ...as opposed to the poplar decision

 

[arboromega]

the cottonwood everyone mentions is actualy a true poplar in populous (close, something like this spelling?) genus such as a lombary poplar, white poplar, eastern cottonwood , etc... the one i am refering to is the liriodendron tulipferia (tulip poplar)which is closer related reproductively to the magnolia. and just in side the bark is a green band so now i am really curious.

 

[arboromega]

DP,
maybe this will help if i can post these pics correctly

 

[arboromega]

the first one was the tulip poplar here is a cottonwood...

 

[arboromega]

screwed up meant to post the bark pic

 

[SingleJack]

The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees (by region) works for me. Good color pictures of bark, leaves, etc.

 

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Well, I don't have a good feeling that the leaves are going to break out on my clipped off branches. And it looks like the branches attached to the tree are finally figuring out that momma's trunk has been cut, as the buds are starting to wilt.

Switching gears a bit.... Is it a correct statement that Ash leaf buds tend to be one of the last to appear? We all know that Ash makes the best fire wood, and I think I've identified a couple by the fact that they are devoid of any fresh growth. Wood color is off-white and not strongly scented.

 

[TreeJunkie]

Everyone here keeps saying it is cottonwood. That seems fine, except, the wood doesn't have a foul smell as does cottonwood, and the twigs look more like ash to me. Bark, could be either, but ash would be my guess.

 

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Originally posted by TreeJunkie
Everyone here keeps saying it is cottonwood. That seems fine, except, the wood doesn't have a foul smell as does cottonwood, and the twigs look more like ash to me. Bark, could be either, but ash would be my guess.

So you're suggesting Cottonwood would have an odor when freshly cut? This wood did not; it was very neutral. However, the branches were "alternating" rather than "paired", so I believe that means it can't possibly be Ash. Also, the greenish cast to the bark, especially up top, is not representative of Ash, as far as I can know.

 

[DadF]

No way it's Tulip Poplar because you would have a definite pepper smell coming from the wood. Haven't any of you ever chipped up a tulip poplar???
I would have to say it's a cottonwood. You have taken the pictures of the branches at the worst possible time to identify by buds but the branches just say cottonwood to me (and I always listen to my trees ).