ID please

[claydogg84]

How do I know if its say a silver maple or a box elder? I'd like to know if I have wood or kindling... Thanks for all the help

It is not kindling... My wood all gets mixed together - Oak, Hickory, Cherry, Maple (soft & hard), Walnut, etc...

 

[Firefighter938]

I'm not sure it is maple, just a guess. Maple normally splits okay. If you can get some twigs from the tree you cut it would help ID it. I assume the leaves are all gone.

I don't normally mess with box elder, but will burn it if it needs cleaned up.

 

[Smock2015]

So I just need to use it as a mixer or for short hot fires? Sorry for all the questions i just want to try and use what I have in the best way

 

[Firefighter938]

If it is box elder don't expect overnight burns from it.

 

[Smock2015]

Hopefully these will help and yes no leaves left

 

[Firefighter938]

Those twigs seem to alternate, which would mean it is not a maple. Do a quick google search for identifying trees with twigs or winter identification. That would help narrow it down. Possibly elm if very stringy and hard to split.

 

[Wood Duck]

This is Black Gum, or perhaps since you are in Alabama, the closely related Tupelo Gum. The bark is just right for Black Gum, and the twiggy shape of the tree is too. Black Gum is known to split poorly. I don't really know a lot about Tupelo because it is a southern tree, but it is closely related to Black Gum.

 

[Smock2015]

Black gum? I've heard of gum trees but again not as firewood... I mean what burns burns as long as its dry but it is "gummy" when burned? If used will I need to watch chimney more closely? Thanks for all the help y'all

 

[Wood Duck]

I do not think the wood will be gummy or create any more creosote than any other wood once it is dry. I am not sure why the trees are called Black GUM, but it isn't because the wood is gummy in my opinion. Even if there were gumminess in the wood, the inside of the wood stove is hot enough to destroy and burn any organic stuff pretty thoroughly, the same as it does for all woods, including pines, which are sort of gummy.

 

[shoot-straight]

100% black gum....

 

[MJSully]

Ash?

 

[Applesister]

I was gonna kick in Sweet Gum but the stems usually have those weird wings. Since you showed the limbs.
Grudgingly go with Black Gum on this one based on the yellow interlocking wood. When you split the wood and the fibers travel every which way there are only a few species that carry that grain pattern.
Elm, Black Gum/SweetGum and Sycamore.
The Gum name comes from Sweet gum and think its because they look similar to European trees and were named locally by early settlers.
The trees arent related.
If you are unfamiliar with the tree and it is common wood for your area, I would just try it. If its there and you have free easy access.
I burn mostly poplar because it replicates itself quicker than anything.
Boxelder is a noxious weed, how it got lumped under the maple heading is a miracle. (Its winged seed pods) The wood is spongy, burns dirty, stinks and reabsorbs atmospheric moisture, rots and grows sprouts in the woodpile. And looks like Poison Ivy.
BoxElder and Willow are the only woods to leave in the field. In the ditch I should say. Lol
Coffee rant over.

 

[Smock2015]

Thanks y'all for all the help I'll assume it's black gum I have quite a bit to split so maybe I'll have to rent a splitter for a day
Thanks again for the help