maple or cottonwood

[rebocardo]

I am cutting down a tree in a few days (God willing) and I was told it was a maple. The only maple I could find that matched the leaf was a mountain maple.

Only problem this is in Atlanta GA, the tree is 72 feet tall, and about 20" DBH. Bark is grayish with long furrows up the bark.

I think it is most likely a cottonwood not listed in my book. I can't see any seeds yet, I did manage to grab a leaf. They are about 3 inches long, 1.5" wide, 5 to a stem. Plus, the stems and twigs are smooth, with slight bumps along the twigs. It says mountain maple, besides being 30 feet tall, are furry/hairy. Finely serrated edges.

It does look like a maple tree, various crotches starting 12-15 feet up and a full top.
 

[WDH]

It is red maple, Acer rubrum.

[Dodgy Loner]

Yes, most all maples have opposite, palmately lobed leaves, like those in your picture.  Cottonwood leaves are alternate and unlobed.  Lucky for you, since red maple makes a more desirable sawlog than cottonwood

[SwampDonkey]

Truly a red maple. The seeds fall off earlier than other hardwood. One of the first trees to flower in spring time. I'm in maple country.  Mountain maple grows in clumps and larger ones branch off at about 5 feet. And as you say the leaves will have hairs and look more rough textured. Red maple can be 3 to 5 lobed, in yours the bottom two are not pronounced.

[SwampDonkey]

Leaves from the same tree in my back yard.

[rebocardo]

Thanks guys!

Being Red Maple (not listed in my book ... I need a new book) I will keep some for BBQ and smoking. Has to be better then pine :-D

Now the other picture, the leaf at the top is what I recognize as Maple. Weird two different looking leaves from the same tree.
 
There was not a good straight 8 feet in the whole tree so it was all firewood. Carpenter ants seem to like the flavor of the wood.

[Dodgy Loner]

Carpenter ants seem to like any tree with heart rot, and unfortunately red maple is high on the list of prime candidates for heart rot

[SwampDonkey]

If not rotten, very dark brown at times.

[WDH]

Rebo,

Here is the book that you should get.  The pictures are good as well as the descriptions.

http://www.amazon.com/Native-Trees-Southeast-Katherine-Kirkman/dp/0881928283

[Dodgy Loner]

I agree with WDH.  It's an excellent book!