What type of wood is this?

frayedend · May 18, 2019

Okay so I have identified a lot of birch on my property. I was looking for hickory but I don't think I've had any luck. The only strange thing is I found 3 different trees with just about the same leaves but significantly different bark. The birch is easily identified with horizontal striations. But another one I was hoping was shagbark hickory has the same leaves as the birch. Any idea what this tree is? Yet a third tree had the same leaves but super smooth bark.

The shaggy bark...

The leaves

The smooth with the leaves...

The yellow birch with some leaves in the pic...

masque13 · May 18, 2019

The top couple of pictures looks to me to be a shagbark Hickory.

frayedend · May 18, 2019

I researched a bit and I think it’s American elm. Top pic.

Norm · May 18, 2019

The leaves look like american elm. Around here we call it piss elm because of the smell when you cut it. Can get huge and then all of a sudden die from dutch elm disease. If the wood is white with a small dark core than my guess is you are right.

ironmanerik · May 18, 2019

I think the smooth bark one is beech.

Monkey Uncle · May 18, 2019

Top pic - can't tell for sure from the bark. If you are sure that those leaves actually go with that trunk (and not a nearby tree), then I agree that American elm is a good possibility. Otherwise, just based on the bark, it might also be shagbark hickory or red maple.

The small tree with the smooth bark is American beech.

You are correct about the yellow birch.

frayedend · May 18, 2019

Thanks. I am positive the leaves go with the tree. So elm. Bummer I have no hickory on my land. But I have plenty of oak and sugar maple. I’ll survive.

Monkey Uncle · May 19, 2019

frayedend said:
Thanks. I am positive the leaves go with the tree. So elm. Bummer I have no hickory on my land. But I have plenty of oak and sugar maple. I’ll survive.

Both of which make great wood for cooking/smoking. You can also use beech and birch. Beech cooks similar to oak. I've never cooked with birch, but I've burned it in my wood stove. It produces a little less heat than oak, but is still a good solid hardwood, and it produces no objectionable odors.

What type of wood is this?

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