Wood ID Help

[Rob Cunningham]

I picked up this log the other day at the park. I have no idea what it is. It's fairly dense with an off white color (see the spot to the lower right of the pith without Anchorseal) and not much smell to it. The bark is a grayish color. Any ideas? Thanks.

[John Keeton]

I don't have a clue, but loose growth rings would seem to indicate a fast growing tree, and since you found it in the park, it may not be a native tree. Hope you get some better input!:o

[Mike Stephens]

It's hard to tell from the pics but it looks Like Ash to me Rob.

[Kevin J Lalonde]

Some sort of elm?

[Tad Capar]

It is a fast growing tree, its like a weed, its leaves resemble ash's leaves but a lot larger, a foot long or so. I cut some out on our newly acquired property here in NJ, but have no idea of its name.

[Rob Cunningham]

Tad, sounds like you are talking about Sumac.

[David E Keller]

Ash or catalpa? Hard to know. Why don't you spin something from it and then post it again. Sometimes I think they're easier to identify once turned.

[Roland Martin]

From the limited grain & bark I can see, I also think it may be ash.

[Roger Bullock]

I vote for ash also.

[Rob Cunningham]

Ash or catalpa? Hard to know. Why don't you spin something from it and then post it again. Sometimes I think they're easier to identify once turned.

I just have to find some time. Maybe this weekend:confused:

[Hilel Salomon]

If it is a very fast growing and weed like tree, I don't think that it is ash. It sounds like Paulonia . Paulonia is very fast growing, has a fairly dull white wood and very large leaves. The Japanese love it and buy it from us, but it has never caught on here.
Hilel.

[Jeff Nicol]

Did the tree have any of the seeds left on it? Ash have a kind of paddle looking samara (seed) like a maple but in clumps. You said the leaves were big, meaning big single leaves? By what I can see and the big growth rings so far catalpa is my pick.


Jeff

[John Keeton]

What about this? It seems to be everywhere, and is invasive.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/G%C3%B6tterbaum_%28Ailanthus_altissima%29.jpg/180px-G%C3%B6tterbaum_%28Ailanthus_altissima%29.jpg (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/wiki/File:G%C3%B6tterbaum_(Ailanthus_altissima).jpg)Tre e-of-Heaven
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/shared/spacer.gifhttp://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/images/species/1344132_sm.jpg (http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/treeheaven_child.shtml)Scientific name: Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle
Common names: Tree-of-heaven, China-sumac, varnishtreehttp://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/shared/spacer.gif