Author Topic: tree identification (Read 614 times)

Looper · « **on:** June 12, 2015, 12:27:00 PM »

I've got a tree I'm going to take down this fall and can't figure out what it is. It's probably 35' tall, 16" diameter. I think it might be a Black Gum. I'm hoping to get several good staves out of it.

Here's some pics. Ignore the ivy growing on it:

non-typical · « **Reply #1 on:** June 12, 2015, 12:34:00 PM »

Persimmon

Michael Arnette · « **Reply #2 on:** June 12, 2015, 12:44:00 PM »

Looper · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2015, 12:45:00 PM »

No, it's not persimmon. It has little blueish berries in the fall.

Zradix · « **Reply #4 on:** June 12, 2015, 12:48:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by non-typical:
Persimmon

Bark and leaves do look like it.

Does your tree bear fruit?

Looper · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2015, 01:04:00 PM »

Yeah, small bluish/purple berries. It's definitely not a persimmon.

Zradix · « **Reply #6 on:** June 12, 2015, 01:07:00 PM »

hhmmm

non-typical · « **Reply #7 on:** June 12, 2015, 01:12:00 PM »

Ok-----Small Blue Berried Persimmon then....I'm never wrong, just ask my ex-wives :D

Zradix · « **Reply #8 on:** June 12, 2015, 01:12:00 PM »

Probably is black gum then.
They both have similar bark and leaves.

DennyK · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2015, 01:46:00 PM »

When I get "stumpted" with tree identification I rely on the Audabon Tree book for my region, very helpful and fun to use when out scouting. Denny

Pat B · « **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2015, 01:58:00 PM »

Black gum(Nissa sylvatica)aka tupelo

achigan · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2015, 04:06:00 PM »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyssa_sylvatica

Cyclic-Rivers · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2015, 08:03:00 AM »

By the above link, it looks like you have a match. Is Tupelo good for bow staves?

Matty · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2015, 08:34:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by non-typical:
Ok-----Small Blue Berried Persimmon then....I'm never wrong, just ask my ex-wives :D

Pat B · « **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2015, 09:06:00 AM »

I have heard of black gum bows but I wouldn't cut a black gum tree for bow wood. I would take a stave or two to try, though.

Matt Quick · « **Reply #15 on:** June 13, 2015, 01:28:00 PM »

Sure looks like a black gum from the pics. A key feature in black gums is the limbs coming off the main trunk will almost all be at a 90 degree angle.

SELFBOW19953 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 13, 2015, 01:53:00 PM »

Might also want to check sourwood-bark is similar to persimmon. Flowers look like a line of bells hanging downward. Berries are small and purplish. Here's a video on IDing sour gum

http://video.about.com/forestry/How-to-Identify-a-Blackgum-Tree.htm.

Notice all the tiny limbs growing off the main limbs near the top of the tree. The berries grow in clusters.

Pat B · « **Reply #17 on:** June 13, 2015, 01:55:00 PM »

Not sourwood. We have plenty of it here and I make some of my hunting arrows from sourwood shoots.
Good call on the 90 deg. limb angle, Matt. That is a good ID tool.

Looper · « **Reply #18 on:** June 13, 2015, 06:24:00 PM »

It's definitely a blackgum. A neighbor a couple of doors down is an arborist, and he confirmed it this morning. I'd leave it up, but I've got to take down a big pine a few feet away. With the way the pine will need to fall, It'll likely fall into the black gum.

Pat B · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2015, 07:25:00 PM »

If you plan on using it for firewood get a hydraulic splitter. Black gum has interlocking fibers and is a bear to split.


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Author Topic: tree identification (Read 614 times)

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