Tree ID help

[fish6942]

I'm planning to take this tree down this weekend and am trying to ID it.

Any ideas? I'm in southern MN if that helps.

Thanks!

 

[Craig Clayton]

I am guessing Basswood.
Craig Clayton

 

[Andy in Gap]

Looks like Ash to me, any way you can get a photo of the twigs and/or a closeup of the leaf scars on the branches? More information is probably gonna be necessary for an accurate ID.

 

[stratton]

If the branches are opposite(not alternate)then it is generally a maple, ash, or dogwood. The bark with the crisscross can be ash but it looks a little to deep.

 

[fish6942]

Depending on weather I plan to cut it down this weekend. I'll plan to come back with some additional pics of the twigs and the grain after it gets bucked.

Basically, if it's not punky it'll probably go in the woodpile. I'm fairly new to woodburning and am just trying to add to my knowledge base. :thumbsup:

 

[Steve IA]

Looks like cottonwood bark to me.
If it is, it's not much good for firewood.
Steve

 

[MossRoad]

I don't know what it is, but it appears to have the dreaded blue X disease. Not many trees survive that.

 

[MossRoad]

O.K. I guess sassafras.

 

[sweettractors]

I guess Elm, Ken Sweet

 

[beenthere]

I'd bet on cottonwood.
Like SteveIA, they are pretty unmistakable. And being in S. MN, more likely that is what you have.

A pic of the wood after it is cut will help, but if/when it is split and dried at least a year it will make/give heat. Just that it isn't as heavy as oak and will require a few more armloads to give equal heat. If burned before a year seasoning, figure on twice the armloads to boil off the water first. Cottonwood has a lot of moisture in it when "green".

Here are some pics of cottonwood bark
http://www.featurepics.com/online/Bark-Cottonwood-Tree-Picture213308.aspx

 

[SPIKER]

looks like cotton wood to me as well but with all the bug holes it might be a elm it looks pretty well done for though. the blue cross fungus sure makes them disappear in a flash

Mark

 

[forester2]

Cottonwood

 

[dreamer]

Cottonwood.

 

[fish6942]

Ughhh, cottonwood?? That was my greatest fear!! I think after I drop it I'll post some pictures of the stump and a round or two before I commit to making it all into nice firewood lengths. I have other sources of better wood so I'm not going to bother if it indeed is cottonwood.

 

[Craig Clayton]

I checked on a plant map site. The most northern range of the Cottonwood is on the the southern range of the state of MN. The Basswood has a range all the way in the state of MN up to our common longest undefended border. And it ranges half way up in Ontario.
Craig Clayton

 

[beenthere]

IMO, it is not basswood.

I'm sure of that.

 

[clemsonfor]

Im a forester. Yet im a southern forester, and pine is mostly my thing as well as our local HW's. My first thought was cottonwood, before reading all the others. BUt i dont get much exposure to cottonwood (i see it from time to time) Ash or large elms here. I dont think sassafrass gets that big, like MOss said (at least i have never seen it around here that size?).

 

[SandburRanch]

Looks like slippery elm bark.
Google Image Result for http://s3.hubimg.com/u/137362_f260.jpg

 

[MossRoad]

Im a forester. Yet im a southern forester, and pine is mostly my thing as well as our local HW's. My first thought was cottonwood, before reading all the others. BUt i dont get much exposure to cottonwood (i see it from time to time) Ash or large elms here. I dont think sassafrass gets that big, like MOss said (at least i have never seen it around here that size?).

I can't tell the diameter from the photo, but I have a couple big sassafras on my property. :thumbsup: Probably well over 18" diameter.

As for cottonwood, I have never seen a branch come off the side of a cottonwood like that. Most of them around here are pretty straight, about half have multiple trunks from the base, but can't recall a branch like that. Wish we had a leaf from it.

 

[MossRoad]

Looking it up, however, I do not think sassafras is listed for Minn.