Tree ID???

[sledge&wedge]

Alright guys... this one has me "stumped." The closest thing I have found in my book is something called a "Gum Bumelia" aka European Ash Tree, but I don't have much confidence. There are two of them growing in my fencerow in Southern Indiana. Probably 60' tall. The trunk is maybe 48" DBH, and it branches out about 10 feet off the ground into several ~20" sections. The bark looks a lot like a hackberry or gum tree. Large scaly looking stuff with deep cracks. The leaves are very waxy like a Magnolia tree.

Anybody want to take a stab? I am fairly confident that it something in the hackberry or gum family, but I'm no professional.

 

[buzz sawyer]

I'm inclined to agee with Gum Bumelia except the 48" dbh.

 

[sledge&wedge]

I'm inclined to agee with Gum Bumelia except the 48" dbh.

Actually after looking a bit more this morning online, I think I have ruled out Gum Bumelia. This tree doesn't have any sort of thorns/spikes, and the Gum Bumelia does. The 48" DBH may be +/- 6", but I am pretty confident in that estimate.

 

[DFK]

Black Gum.
( Nyssh Sylvatia )
Not very good firewood. And most difficult to split.

David

 

[zogger]

Waxy leaves kinda like tupelo or like said above, it is called black gum

 

[sledge&wedge]

Black Gum.
( Nyssh Sylvatia )
Not very good firewood. And most difficult to split.

David

Waxy leaves kinda like tupelo or like said above, it is called black gum

Looks like you guys are spot on. I was pretty confident in my Gum family guess, but I have only ever seen Sweetgums before and wasn't sure what this one could be. Not really looking to cut it down or anything, just genuine curiosity. They are monster trees and are very pretty in the fall.

Thanks guys!

 

[sledge&wedge]

@zogger - I need some backup here. My dad is arguing that black tupelo and black gum are different trees. From @DFK 's "Nyssh Sylvatia" (which turns out was a bit off from the actual "Nyssa Sylvatica," but still got me pointed in the right direction), both black tupelo and black gum are the same tree. My dad is convinced that black tupelo is actually a strain of black gum. I say they are synonyms for the same tree. Can either of you confirm or dispute??? Obviously not a big deal, but a cold case of beer is on the line!!!

 

[zogger]

@zogger - I need some backup here. My dad is arguing that black tupelo and black gum are different trees. From @DFK 's "Nyssh Sylvatia" (which turns out was a bit off from the actual "Nyssa Sylvatica," but still got me pointed in the right direction), both black tupelo and black gum are the same tree. My dad is convinced that black tupelo is actually a strain of black gum. I say they are synonyms for the same tree. Can either of you confirm or dispute??? Obviously not a big deal, but a cold case of beer is on the line!!!

I thought they were the same. Not an expert, other guys here are much more knowledgeable about them. Perhaps...call up or email your local ag department extension agent.

 

[Fred Wright]

Black gum and tupelo are the same tree, they grow like weeds here. There's several of 'em in the front yard, mature trees with limbs growing mostly straight out from the main stem. The woodlot next door is rife with saplings. As firewood, it's pretty much bottom-of-the-barrel for heat. They're better left to stand to feed wild birds and deer. Tupelo is also renowned for delicious honey if you have bees.

In mature trees the bark resembles alligator hide. A good way to ID these things is in late summer when they bear fruit; pea-sized purplish berries. They tend to change color sooner than other trees, sporting a lovely burnt orange hue in early fall.

The leaves aren't waxy, though they do look like those in the OP's photo.

 

[lone wolf]

 

[Gypo Logger]

Just curious, but are the leaves evergreen? Meaning are they shed in the fall?

 

[sledge&wedge]

Just curious, but are the leaves evergreen? Meaning are they shed in the fall?

No, they turn a bright red in the fall and then drop about the same time as any other typical tree.

 

[sledge&wedge]

View attachment 431956

That's the right bark, but... what are you getting at? Just throwing up a pic since I didn't have one?

EDIT: Nevermind. Just saw Fred's post mentioning the bark, so I'm guessing you were just providing a reference.