I'm stumped

[getoverit]

I just came from a job where the customer is going to cut down a bunch of trees.  One of the trees is dropping "balls" that look like sycamore balls, the bark looks like a red oak, and the leaves look like a maple leaf. I dont have a clue what kind of tree this could be.

I know I should have taken pictures, but I didnt have my camera with me. He is going to cut them down in June, and I plan on being there when this happens. I will get the logs from this tree and all of the others that he is going to cut.

I'm just curious.... does anybody have any idea what kind of tree this could be with the description I give?

[Tom]

Probably Sweet Gum.  the leaves are 5 pointed and the balls have little spikes on them.

[getoverit]

I didnt get a chance to count the points on the leaves, but as far as I know I've never seen one of these (or havent paid attention to it if I did).

If sweet gum has balls like a sycamore tree and looks like an oak, then this must be what it is.

Thanks Tom !!

[bitternut]

I'm going to side with Tom. My daughter had one of those trees in her yard in Ocean City, NJ. I had to look it up. Never had seen one before.

[scsmith42]

Ditto re the sweet gum - my farm is covered with them.  The "points" on the leaves are usually a little narrower than maple.

There are other posts on this forum about uses for the lumber.  One of the old time sawyers around here recommends it for barn siding.  It has a reputation for twisting and warping when exposed to humidity.

The stumps are usually a real pain to get out - very deep tap roots.

[getoverit]

well, that was easy enough... here is another one:

I have a hickory tree (pignut I think) that is dropping leaves like crazy. It appears that alot of the leaves that have budded out in this year's crop are falling off and it also looks like the small limb that the bundle of leaves are on have exploded. I havent seen this before either.

Here is a couple of pictures, but the quality isnt as good as I would like. Notice that the stems of the leaf pods look like popcorn, or that they have exploded. Any idea what is causing this?

[Tom]

Those are Galls caused by the stinging of an insect and the laying of eggs in the wound.  They usually don't hurt the tree.  Perhaps the quantity is causing the twigs to die.

[getoverit]

Ive heard of gnats doing this to the leaf of oak trees... any idea what kind of insect is doing it?

[Tom]

Probably an aphid type insect.  google phylloxeran to learn of the insects.

Here is a Vermont site that speaks of some of them.

http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/galls.html

Gall insects are quite numerous.  It is sometimes difficult to identify the specific on causing the damage but you can get in the ball park.

[getoverit]

Tom, Youre a genious !

Thanks !!