Solved!! Don't Go Barking Up the Wrong Tree

[WDH]

Here is a barky one for you.  Very typical bark for this tree at this stage of growth, about 12" in DBH.........

 

The ridges are just starting to crack open.

[Texas Ranger]

shagbark or locust

[okie]

I believe that is hickory behind it so that is my guess, does look like some of the young locusts we have too.

[Lanier_Lurker]

I have a lot of yellow poplar in my area that look like that.  Also, from what I can discern about the form of the tree from that section of trunk, it looks nice and straight with little taper.  This also could point to it being yellow poplar.

[WDH]

Nope, nope, and nope.  All very good observations, but all wrong.  Here is a pic of the branching habit.  Also typical of this species.  No, not the pines!  It is the tree with the branches without leaves.....

 

[Don K]

sourwood or either ironwood

Don

[Ironwood]

Definitely not ash. Perhaps hophornbeam?

 Ironwood

[WDH]

DonK, it is not sourwood or ironwood.

Ironwood, it is not ironwood .

This is a tough one.  The bark looks different on younger trees (about 30 years old and less).  This is a younger version.

This is a commercially harvested species, not one of the main ones, but not rare to see in lumber form.

Here is a hint:  As you progress up the tree, the bark smooths out some and has some little bumps on it.

[Dave Shepard]

populus?


Dave

[Ironwood]

 I ment the other Hornbeam, not Blue beech( American Hornbeam, Ironwood, Musclewood),  BUT Eastern Hophornbeam.


   I don't think Hop goes by "Ironwood"

                 Ironwood.

[Dave Shepard]

I'm sticking with poplar, just have to figure out which one I'm talking about. 


Dave

[Dan_Shade]

when I doubt, I call everything red oak (but bear in mind that I've not been formally trained!)

[Lanier_Lurker]

Can I assume this tree to be in Houston County?

[WDH]

Not hophornbeam, not populous, not red oak, not anything mentioned.

I said it was a tough one.....

The pic was taken in Texas. 

[Lanier_Lurker]

Here is a pic of the branching habit.  Also typical of this species.

Looking at that pic, I'm going to have to guess blackgum (nyssa sylvatica)

[limbrat]

Black gum

[Timburr]

Is it flavoured with a hint of lime (tilia)?

[Dodgy Loner]

Methinks the Englishman is onto something...

[WDH]

Timburr!!  You are barking up the right tree .

Way to go .  Tilia it is.  Good old basswood. 

SOLVED!

[Lanier_Lurker]

DanG it...

I should have realized that after your emphasis on the splits in the bark.

I also should have learned better from this earlier post of mine. 

http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,28251.0.html

[WDH]

LL,

That sure was a fun post, glad you brought it back up. 

I went to Dahlonega today and passed by one little arm of the lake off GA 400 except there weren't no lake, just a dry steambed .  I thought about you when I saw the sign.

[Texas Ranger]

You are one up on me, Danny, don 't believe I have ever seen a basswood in Texas.

[Lanier_Lurker]

I went to Dahlonega today and passed by one little arm of the lake off GA 400 except there weren't no lake, just a dry steambed .  I thought about you when I saw the sign.

Yep, you passed about a mile away from me there at exit 15.  The creek you mention is between exits 15 and 16.

Dahlonega is a pretty town.  I have a coworker who lives on the north side of town there and drives all the way to downtown Atlanta to work every day - about 40 more minutes on top of what I have to drive.

Dahlonega is also right on the edge of the transition from the upper piedmont to the mountains - which makes for an interesting mix of flora.

[WDH]

You are one up on me, Danny, don 't believe I have ever seen a basswood in Texas.

Tex,

Yep, they are there in the Pineywoods.  This tree was in San Jacinto County.

LL,

I did not realize that I was so close to your place with all the cool trees.  I went to play Bluegrass music at the Mountain Festival this weekend for a friend who owns a wine tasting shop just south of town on Hwy 60.  It was a fun but grueling day.  Very pretty up there, but civilization is there in full force now.

[SwampDonkey]

Yeah I guessed basswood with the branching pattern and bark. But my yard trees are not splitting in the bark yet, they are still smooth and gray like beech.  Might be starting at the very base. The prominent bark breakage is from dang sap suckers.