ID This tree

[Aaron Dunham]

This tree is in the yard in my shop. I don't particularly like the looks of it, so I would like to harvest it for stock (if worthwhile). The replacement will be mesquites or other native desert trees. Not native to Arizona by the looks of it, but that's as much as I can tell. Any ideas?
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/IMG_1986.jpg
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/IMG_1988.jpg
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/IMG_1989.jpg

[Eric Porter]

Aaron,
Based on the leaves and branch growth I would wager that it is some variety of Japanese maple (Acer palmatum). My only experience with these is as ornamnetal landscape not as project stock, but I will add that they can be quite pricey.

Eric

[Travis Gauger]

I agree that it looks like a jap maple. I just bought a small one of these for in my landscaping and it was over a hundred dollars for it at the end of year close out. The one I got was in a 3 gallon bucket, so you can imagine the size, not very big but expensive. You should consider seeing if someone would want to transplant it to their yard or something. I have no idea what it looks like inside.

[Richard M. Wolfe]

Don't have a clue what it is, but it looks like a good example of how not to trim a tree. It looks like the ends of the branches have just been whacked off and it caused "witches broom" (all those small limbs radiating from one spot) to form.

[Prashun Patel]

I ain't no "treeologist" but it sure doesn't look like any Japanese (or other) maple I've ever seen. Bark seems rougher. JM's don't typically branch like that either.

[alex grams]

A little off subject, but that has to be one of my biggest pet peeves ever is people who butcher trees like that (especially large oaks/sycamores and such).

For a trash tree or something that is just there, sure, but i nearly cringe when i see someone cut back a large oak like that :( It completely kills the beauty of what a tree is).

Please take no offense in regards if you did that to your tree, there is a difference in scrub trees and large beautiful full age trees.

*rant off*

I concur on jap maple btw.

[Travis Gauger]

I found a picture of a violin made of jap maple.

[Aaron Dunham]

Please take no offense in regards if you did that to your tree, there is a difference in scrub trees and large beautiful full age trees.

None taken, the tree was there and in that condition when I got the building. I have to agree with some of the sentiment that says the bark is too rough for a JM. The shoots coming off of the limbs are a light red/pinkish color if that is of any additional help.

[Russ Sears]

That looks like Silver Maple (Acer Saccharinum) to me although, bear in mind, I'm in the North East. It could be a species that we don't have here and there are a lot of maple species.

Silvers grow rapidly, have roots that stick up in your yard and generally make a mess.

[Joe Chritz]

Looks like a power company hack job.

It has been a lot of years since I was in landscape but I planted a lot of Japanese maples. The leaves look right but they wouldn't ever get that big here. With a real growing season and lots of sun it still could be.

Regardless I bet that top section will have some cool grain in it.

Joe

[Dave Verstraete]

My guess is silver maple because of the rougher bark and the narrow angle limbs to each other. It is just leafing out, so it is hard to see the mature shape of the leaf. Silver maple will have a silver sheen on the back side of the leaf.

[Brian Kent]

On the bright side, if the trim job was done right, you wouldn't have a trunk that stays thick all the way to the top of the tree.:o

[Todd Bin]

I cant' believe you don't recongize Fred the tree. I haven't seen Fred in a while. :D

Really, I have no idea (like you couldn't tell from the first part.)

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

"Fence Tree" is the popular name. It is of the sub species Galvanusmetallicus Arboreedum which, as every one knows, is the one that grows next to galvanized metal wire fences.

[David Duke]

Looks like a power company hack job..........

Joe

I agree with Joe on this, around here I've seen trees basically cut off about 10' below the power lines leaving nothing but the trunk, on others removal of all branches/limbs on the line side leaving you a bare trunk on one side and the other with all of its God given glory (at least for the first year).

[Mark Springer]

Its hard to tell but it does resemble Japanese Maple to me as well. Some species get larger than that. I worked at a nursery for 10 years. You should get a better idea in another weak when the leaves had opened up more.

[Chris Padilla]

The leaves are the key...definately a maple...beyond that requires closer examination.

What the hey, wood is wood...chop it down...slab it up...sticker...wait. :)

[Eric Gustafson]

That is a Mulberry tree. MOst are fruitless, but the fruit looks like this:

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:8qyoaQ5PmyrOoM:http://www.mediamessage.com/kayton/Silkworms/images/leaves.JPG (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mediamessage.com/kayton/Silkworms/images/leaves.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.mediamessage.com/kayton/Silkworms/leaves.htm&h=1755&w=1275&sz=141&hl=en&start=17&um=1&tbnid=8qyoaQ5PmyrOoM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=109&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmulberry%2Btree%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26 rlz%3D1T4GGIE_enUS244US245)http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:dZ1FWfxIu9p2VM:http://jennifersaylor.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/mulberry.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://jennifersaylor.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/mulberry.jpg&imgrefurl=http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2007/08/&h=598&w=465&sz=75&hl=en&start=117&um=1&tbnid=dZ1FWfxIu9p2VM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=105&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmulberry%2Btree%26start%3D108%26ndsp% 3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4GGIE_enUS244US2 45%26sa%3DN)

They prune them like that sometimes in our part of the country. It ruins the appearance, IMO, but that causes them to look like this.
http://www.cyprusruralholidays.co.uk/userdata/PRODPIC-132.jpg

[Eric Gustafson]

I was so sure it was a Mulberry, but now that I look at those new leaves, it could also be a Chinaberry.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/52/Chinaberry1216.JPG/240px-Chinaberry1216.JPG (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Chinaberry1216.JPG)




That is a Mulberry tree. MOst are fruitless, but the fruit looks like this:

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:8qyoaQ5PmyrOoM:http://www.mediamessage.com/kayton/Silkworms/images/leaves.JPG (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mediamessage.com/kayton/Silkworms/images/leaves.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.mediamessage.com/kayton/Silkworms/leaves.htm&h=1755&w=1275&sz=141&hl=en&start=17&um=1&tbnid=8qyoaQ5PmyrOoM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=109&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmulberry%2Btree%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26 rlz%3D1T4GGIE_enUS244US245)http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:dZ1FWfxIu9p2VM:http://jennifersaylor.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/mulberry.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://jennifersaylor.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/mulberry.jpg&imgrefurl=http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2007/08/&h=598&w=465&sz=75&hl=en&start=117&um=1&tbnid=dZ1FWfxIu9p2VM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=105&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmulberry%2Btree%26start%3D108%26ndsp% 3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4GGIE_enUS244US2 45%26sa%3DN)

They prune them like that sometimes in our part of the country. It ruins the appearance, IMO, but that causes them to look like this.
http://www.cyprusruralholidays.co.uk/userdata/PRODPIC-132.jpg

[Chris Padilla]

Eric,

No dissrespect but those leaves you posted and the ones from the OP are not even close! The maple has the much sharper points and finer lines and serrations. The two you post appear to be much more broad and no serrations.

[Travis Gauger]

Eric,

No dissrespect but those leaves you posted and the ones from the OP are not even close! The maple has the much sharper points and finer lines and serrations. The two you post appear to be much more broad and no serrations.


I agree with Chris. I think the leaves in the original picture is much more thin and sharp.

[Russ Sears]

Silver Maple leaves:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/863/65008508.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.dkimages.com/discover/Home/Plants/Ornamental-Groups/Trees/Broadleaves/Aceraceae/Acer/Acer-saccharinum/Acer-saccharinum-1.html&h=768&w=756&sz=96&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=FOMhe5iRSCzkNM:&tbnh=142&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dacer%2Bsaccharinum%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den %26sa%3DN

If it's not Silver Maple (which may not even exist in AZ), it's something closely related.

[Eric Gustafson]

That fair, Chris. No disrespect received or meant. :rolleyes: After looking at that mass of leaves coming up from the crotch in the tree, I am not as sure of my original call. That's why I think it could also be a Chinaberry. Both trees grow down here and get pruned like that. But hose leaves that are shown in the OP are not yet fully extended. Show us some more pics in a couple of weeks.


Eric,

No dissrespect but those leaves you posted and the ones from the OP are not even close! The maple has the much sharper points and finer lines and serrations. The two you post appear to be much more broad and no serrations.

[Stan Terrell]

Based on leaves and bark I would think Chinaberry (melia azedarach) also known as American Mahogany.

Stan

[Mike Monroe]

I don't think it's mulberry or a silver maple... the leaves look a little like a box elder, but I wouldn't bet on it being a box elder either. Maybe it's an ash of some kind?

[Chris Padilla]

I'm changing my stance, it is clearly Bubinga!!!

;)

[Aaron Dunham]

I was so sure it was a Mulberry, but now that I look at those new leaves, it could also be a Chinaberry.

After looking at some pictures on Google image, Chinaberry (specifically Variegated Chinaberry) seems to be a strong contender. This tree does grow waxy, yellow, marble sized fruits in the spring.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

I'll buck the trend here and throw in a new on. Boxelder? Doed it get winged seeds? Leaves look right.

[Aaron Dunham]

I ran across a Chinaberry topic on a forestry/sawyer forum. That bark does look familiar. I might have a halfway decent tree on my hands here...
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/cbend.jpg
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/chinab3.jpg
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/chinab2.jpg
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/chinab1.jpg

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

I ran across a Chinaberry topic on a forestry/sawyer forum. That bark does look familiar. I might have a halfway decent tree on my hands here...
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/cbend.jpg
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/chinab3.jpg
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/chinab2.jpg
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/chinab1.jpg

How pretty like American Cherry but stronger.
I wonder how it looks when quartersawn

[Alan Trout]

It also looks like chinaberry to me. I have had a few and always a good day is a day that you can chop down one because you never know when it is going to fall on your house. However with that being said I am not 100% sure that is what it is.

Good Luck

Alan

[Dave MacArthur]

Love these threads. I would say Maple of some sort myself. Where in Phx are you, because if you don't want it, THAT may be the tree that spurs me to actually by the 514x2 I want! ;)

[Chris Barnett]

Give it a month and take a closer picture of a single leaf or leaf stem with multiple leaves like a walnut or pecan. Young leaves still in the growing stage are difficult to ID.
Had read [here on SMC?] that a wood sample could be sent to the government for identification or was that in a dream? If true, have a piece from a wood pallet that I would like to have identified. Very heavy wood and cuts like a dream.

[John Michaels]

When the tree opens up a little more, take one of the leaves and a picture of the tree to a good nursery. Call around first to see how good some of their staff are at identfying trees. I bet they'll be able to tell you what it is.

[Bruce Haugen]

Yep, that's true.

But remember, the east coast blackout of a few years ago was initially caused by trees that hadn't been pruned. Overhead lines sagged into them on a hot day and took out the grid.

Bruce

[Aaron Dunham]

Love these threads. I would say Maple of some sort myself. Where in Phx are you, because if you don't want it, THAT may be the tree that spurs me to actually by the 514x2 I want! ;)

Funny thing, I've been putting off that exact same purchase. I have a client who is somewhat of an urban forester (landscape redesign & update) with a monster piece of eucalyptus she needs to have resawn, and that was going to be my reason for getting the big Grizzly. In thinking about this tree this week, I've revisited the issue. Now I have two reasons I guess. BTW, the shop is @ 7th St. & Buckeye, just below the ballpark.

[Jack Briggs]

Could possibly be a sycamore or planewood tree.

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/858/50009664.JPG

[Richard M. Wolfe]

I usually don't try to make an ID - and won't make an ID on wood alone other than to say what I think It's not. But..... looking at the bark and mainly hearing a "yellow, waxy, marble like berry". Chinaberry. We just milled one yesterday about 20 in across. Nice looking wood, so if you decide to take this one down and it's large enough the wood is worth having. I checked with several mills some time back when I got a 'bug' about chinaberry and was told that 1) it's usually not big enough to mess with 2) if they do cut one it goes out the door in a hurry.

[Eric Gustafson]

I have lived in this part of the country for 36 years and always thought of Chinaberry as a junk tree. Never even thought of what the wood might look like. That stuff is beautiful! Now that I know, I will have to get my hands on some! :D


I ran across a Chinaberry topic on a forestry/sawyer forum. That bark does look familiar. I might have a halfway decent tree on my hands here...
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/cbend.jpg
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/chinab3.jpg
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/chinab2.jpg
http://www.azflyandtie.com/photopost/data/500/chinab1.jpg

["Michael Hinkel"]

Could it be "Silk Oak"



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/evsac/Miscellaneous/IMG_0221.jpg