Wood ID help?

[Rick Prosser]

Recently milled a log that had very interesting grain, but I don't know what kind of tree it might be.

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The sapwood is generally creamy white in coloration, with a narrow section of dark brown with light streaks heartwood. This specimen has some wild grain compared to another log I milled. It seems to be a softer wood - not as hard as oak or maple.

The leaves look like this (I think it is evergreen):

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And the bark looks like this (very thick and quilt-like, much "puffier" than oak bark. Not stringy like cedar):
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The tree grows tall like the red oak and maples I have here, but seems to prefer the wetter boggy areas.
It has white flowers similar to magnolia (smells like magnolia), but smaller. Can't find the photo...
Does Magnolia grow as a tree?

I am in the Midlands of SC in very sandy soil.

[Bill Rogers]

My guess is Magnolia virginiana, and yes, Magonlias do grow as trees.

http://www.google.com/search?q=magnolia+virginiana&hl=en&biw=1016&bih=522&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=UQWTTqfnOuemsAKJ2u2mAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CEMQsAQ

[Rick Prosser]

That was the same ID that I had come to - except the bark does not seem to match. Size, leaves, flowers, soft wood - all good, but it does not have a thin, tight bark. The bark looks similar to red oak, except much thicker.

[Rick Prosser]

Wife has found the
Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus)
Which really seems to fit.

[Bill Rogers]

Your wife may be on to something. Below is part of what the US Foresty website has to say about Loblolly Bay:

with soft, light-colored, fine-grained wood of little commercial value, although loblolly-bay could be managed as a source of pulpwood.

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/gordonia/lasianthus.htm