trees

ohiojim · Mar 23, 2018

I thought I knew my trees pretty well but I ran into a couple that i'd never seen before, maybe some of you can help me out. the tree it's self looks like a buckeye, smooth bark and same color but the seed from them are different and came in 2 varieties. i'm including some pics. these trees are in an old strip ground among some planted oak and maple from prolly 50 years ago, but these seem to be volunteer.

Jim in rush co · Mar 23, 2018

Top one is Sweet Gum

kcm.MN · Mar 23, 2018

The one with the prickly balls is Gum. I grew up with Sweet Gum, but there is also another common variety....I'm thinking called Red Gum? Has beautiful heart wood, but is not normally relegated to uses as packing crates, pallets and unseen parts of furniture. Many a 4-letter word been yelled after stepping on the balls, but they never bothered me. Wish they'd grow up here!!

kcm.MN · Mar 23, 2018

Sorry for the error...the word "not" isn't supposed to be there. Gum IS used for the reasons listed, but NOT normally used as a primary wood in woodworking projects. Has a wavy grain and is prone to twisting/warpage.

ohiojim · Mar 23, 2018

turns out the single long blade seed is from the "tree of heaven" thanks for help on the sweetgum, only ones I can ever recall seeing

jeffcat · Mar 23, 2018

Neighbor has ones that look very close to 5he top. Button wood or sycamore. Both names for tree.

keh · Mar 23, 2018

Red gum is merely sweetgum that has grown very large and has developed some red heart wood.

Notice the slots in the top of dump truck bodies where a 2 x 12 can be placed to protect the steel bed from dings? Locally in SC sweetgum is the wood of choice for that application. It is quite tough.

KEH

Jim in rush co · Mar 23, 2018

Do you have any Black Gum? I have it and Sweet at the other place. Where the Sweet grows straight tall like Popular the Black Gum limbs droop like a weeping willow and are as wiry as all get out. It is also known as Pepperidge.

BigDanT · Mar 23, 2018

The Tree of Heaven or ailanthius is considered an invasive tree and is usually killed off when possible. Care should be taken when trying to eliminate them, they will send out shoots when cut or ringed, I spray a little Tordon on the bark only.

Elton Fancher · Mar 23, 2018

I think you are correct, sweetgum.

Hay hay hay · Mar 23, 2018

I can not tell from the photos,but if it is the Chinese "tree of Heaven" you need to get the woody plant killer spray going quickly...quickly!!!!!

4520BW · Mar 23, 2018

Correct, spent most of the afternoon splitting sweet gum. It splits(tears) awful and not very Good fire wood but we cut it down so might as well burn it.

Jim in rush co · Mar 23, 2018

4520bw, Wandering if your are going to show the TO 30 when restored? You might post some pictures of progress on the Ferguson Board. Jim

ohiojim · Mar 24, 2018

I've been in the woods around here for 55 years saw all kinds of black gum but this sweet gum is the first I've seen. was quite a surprise.

trees

ohiojim

Well-known Member

Jim in rush co

Well-known Member

kcm.MN

Well-known Member

kcm.MN

Well-known Member

ohiojim

Well-known Member

jeffcat

Well-known Member

keh

Well-known Member

Jim in rush co

Well-known Member

BigDanT

Member

Elton Fancher

Member

Hay hay hay

Well-known Member

4520BW

Well-known Member

Jim in rush co

Well-known Member

ohiojim

Well-known Member

Similar threads