Cadyfatcat Posted September 5, 2018 Report Share Posted September 5, 2018 Wondering if someone could help ID this wood I have. I picked up the logs I cut this board from curbside in Brooklyn NY, which means it could be anything since NYC plants many native and non native species along its streets. It feels like a medium density/weight hardwood - definitely heavier than Pine/fir but lighter than Oak/Ash, can very slightly score it with my fingernail. The bark is very much well attached to wood. Grain of the wood is very smooth and fine. Any help would be appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted September 5, 2018 Report Share Posted September 5, 2018 My guess based off the density and bark is some variety of poplar. This is an excellent resource. http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadyfatcat Posted September 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2018 Yea perhaps, it seems a bit dark with a more reddish hue and I believe heavier than the Poplar I am familiar with though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted September 5, 2018 Report Share Posted September 5, 2018 24 minutes ago, Cadyfatcat said: Yea perhaps, it seems a bit dark with a more reddish hue and I believe heavier than the Poplar I am familiar with though There are various species of poplar than the typical poplar sold by lumber dealers. The lumber dealers don't actually sell a true poplar but instead it's the Liriodendron genus instead of the Populus Genus. Weight isn't the best measure either beings that moisture and a lot of environmental factors can impact that. This is some white poplar that i have or Populus Alba. The best identification is clean high resolution end grain pictures Like those on the website i linked to above. Wood database article on Poplar https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/poplar-cottonwood-and-aspen-whats-what/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 5, 2018 Report Share Posted September 5, 2018 liriodendron tulipifera, tulip poplar. These trees can get huge ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted September 6, 2018 Report Share Posted September 6, 2018 That was one fast growing tree! Must have had roots in the sewer system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted September 6, 2018 Report Share Posted September 6, 2018 Linden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted September 6, 2018 Report Share Posted September 6, 2018 3 hours ago, wdwerker said: liriodendron tulipifera, tulip poplar. These trees can get huge ! Love it when you talk Latin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spanky Posted September 6, 2018 Report Share Posted September 6, 2018 That’s not poplar. The bark don’t look like Mulberry but the end of the board does. But, it may not be that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted September 6, 2018 Report Share Posted September 6, 2018 Yeah, the bark is not Tulip Poplar. I don't know what it is, but I don't think they grow around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted September 6, 2018 Report Share Posted September 6, 2018 Linden, basswood, several other names and species are super popular streetscape trees. Looks a dead ringer for the species lining split neighborhood streets here. Another option might be callory pear. It also takes on that appearance when planted near water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadyfatcat Posted September 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2018 I am digging this Linden / American Basswood theory from @Tpt life - the description of texture/grain and images I am seeing online look very similar, bark and everything. Also it seems Lindens /Basswood are very very prevalent in NYC/Brooklyn where I retrieved this according the the NYC tree map - which reinforces the theory... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnesota Steve Posted September 6, 2018 Report Share Posted September 6, 2018 It looks like cottonwood to me, which is pretty common here in the plains out in the rural areas. It's a fast growing tree often used in wind breaks. My grandfather's farm in Iowa had a ton of them, and his barn was made from cottonwood planks they harvested locally. You used to see these in urban areas prior to the car becoming popular, but the seeds they drop tend to make a mess and I think many urban areas even ban their planting now. I looked at that NYC tree map and there is 400 of them in the entire city, so I'd say that's pretty rare. But given the tree isn't that old... maybe it had become a nuisance and was removed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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