Author Topic: Another one I don't know (Read 2916 times)

Lanier_Lurker · « **on:** November 16, 2007, 04:06:02 pm »

I have started seeing these leaves on the ground. I do not know what tree they are from.

Anyone know?

Tom · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2007, 04:24:34 pm »

Looks like Mulberry to me.

Texas Ranger · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2007, 04:32:54 pm »

The image produces dim memories from the recesses of my brain, but DanGed if I can pull it out. Veins don't look right for mulberry

Greg · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2007, 04:44:26 pm »

basswood

Bro. Noble · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2007, 04:58:04 pm »

It looks to be the right size and color for basswood. Basswood leaves are about the first to fall in huge quantities after the first good frost around here.

Lanier_Lurker · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2007, 06:03:44 pm »

I first looked here: http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=88

Then I flipped this leaf over and took a close look at the veins. It is a dead ringer for the leaf shown on the link above.

The range map from Virginia Tech shows a basswood variant that ranges into north Georgia. Perhaps this leaf is from one of them.

Never knew we had basswood in this area. Now I'll have to search for the tree. With the winds we have had lately it could be far from where I found the leaf.

WDH · « **Reply #6 on:** November 17, 2007, 12:17:49 am »

If you find the tree, get a twig. There is a way to be 100% sure it is basswood from the bud on the twig. The buds are inequilateral. The buds sit halfway offset to one side of the leaf scar rather than sit evenly above the leaf scar. If you see it, you will know what I am talking about.

A pic of the bark would also be nice. Basswood bark is pretty distinctive. Also, where the trunk starts to get a little smooth a good ways up the stem, you often see distinctive bumps on the bark.

Lanier_Lurker · « **Reply #7 on:** November 17, 2007, 10:36:02 am »

I took a walk this morning and think I found this tree, but I'm not absolutely certain.

At first glance I thought this tree was a yellow poplar because of its form. It is about 14" dbh, arrow straight, ~70' tall, and has a very high crown (that has dropped most of its leaves already). When I took a closer look I realized the bark was not that of a yellow poplar.

I decided this had to be the right tree by process of elimination. I could easily identify everything else within a 50' radius.

WDH, I don't think I'm gonna be able to get up there get a twig.

Here are some pictures. Do these help nail down the identification?

Tom · « **Reply #8 on:** November 17, 2007, 01:30:25 pm »

Sure does. It's not mulberry.

woodbeard · « **Reply #9 on:** November 17, 2007, 06:20:49 pm »

That looks like a yellow poplar to me. The bark can vary quite a bit on them. I have seen plenty with bark like that.

WDH · « **Reply #10 on:** November 17, 2007, 09:35:23 pm »

LL,

That bark is definitely 100% yellow poplar. It cannot be your mystery tree. You have to keep looking

.

Lanier_Lurker · « **Reply #11 on:** November 17, 2007, 11:28:53 pm »

Well DanG.

I guess the form of the tree should have been the strongest clue.

Although this bark may look like yellow poplar, it is kinda different than most of the YP in the immediate area.

I can tell you this much: I am not finding any of the variable leaf shapes that red mulberry has. All of the leaves look like the one in the first picture.

BTW, the bright yellow leaves in the skyward facing picture are from a magnificent mockernut hickory that is a few feet away from the primary tree pictured. You can see its upper trunk in the picture. While it is tricky to get any relative perspective from the photo, the hickory is at least 25' taller and a good bit larger in diameter.

I will try again tomorrow. $:-\$

This one is getting on my nerves.

WDH · « **Reply #12 on:** November 17, 2007, 11:57:25 pm »

Those flat ridges on the YP are a dead give-away.

That background mockernut has beautiful color.

Lanier_Lurker · « **Reply #13 on:** November 18, 2007, 12:00:06 am »

Ok, look at the bark pictures on this page: http://www.dof.virginia.gov/trees/basswood.shtml

Is there any possible chance at all that my tree pictures above are of basswood?

WDH · « **Reply #14 on:** November 18, 2007, 12:04:58 am »

I don't think so. But I have been wrong before

. I really think that your bark pics are YP. Is there a preponderance of the leaves in the original pic in that general area? Or, do you see the flat-cut-off-truncated leaves of yellow poplar in the area?

Lanier_Lurker · « **Reply #15 on:** November 18, 2007, 12:24:53 am »

There are plenty or YP in the area to be sure. It is a dominant hardwood in my immediate area.

Here is another bark picture that gives me pause (click on the small image): http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/trees/tilame01.htm

I'm going to go out in the morning with my camera and zoom in as best I can on the remaining leaves up in the crown of this tree. If the leaf at the beginning of this thread did not come from this tree then I'll be stumped. Everything else in the immediate area is easy to identify - and does not have leaves that look anything like this.

woodbeard · « **Reply #16 on:** November 18, 2007, 08:50:13 am »

Well, after looking at those bark pics, I think you could be right. I am used to seeing darker bark on basswood, with narrower ridges, but I guess I have mostly seen older trees, based on the description in those articles. On the other hand, yellow poplar bark usually doesn't get that rough until the tree is real big. I would expect to see smaller ridges on a 14" tree.

Lanier_Lurker · « **Reply #17 on:** November 18, 2007, 12:42:58 pm »

Ok, I went out and found it this morning. I had to widen my search a little bit.

The previously pictured tree is in fact a yellow poplar. I should have known better than to question Danny. However, the bark is unusual when compared to other YP in this area.

I'll try to get pictures up later today (gotta run to town with the wife right now).

Greg · « **Reply #18 on:** November 18, 2007, 09:25:53 pm »

I always thought yellow poplar = tulip poplar.

If so, those bark pics don't look like any tulip poplar I've ever seen.

Not sure,
Greg

WDH · « **Reply #19 on:** November 18, 2007, 09:35:49 pm »

Yellow poplar and tulip poplar are both common names for the same tree. The bark looks pretty typical to me, but maybe that is a Georgia perspective.

To me, basswood has bark ridges that look like the bark just split or cracked. It is unusual and distinctive, at least the ones around here. That inequilateral bud is a smoking gun, however.

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Author Topic: Another one I don't know (Read 2916 times)