Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: profsaffel on February 27, 2011, 09:31:51 pm
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So I was surveying the yard today in preparation for the coming spring, you know, what to prune or whatever, when I discovered a tall sapling had grown up in the middle of a crepe myrtle. Well, whatever type of wood it was it needed to go. I assumed at first glance that it was some type of oak. I hatcheted at the base and then, as most of us bowyers do, tried to decide if it was firewood or could be worthy of making into a bow. I cut the ends, measured the straightest part at about 60 inches, and began stripping the bark with my trusty draw knife. Then, a few seconds later, I noticed some sort of milky substance forming around the now exposed surface. "What is this?" I wondered and began seriously questioning what kind of wood it is. Here's what info I can give you.
First, I live in Northeast Texas, so that should narrow the list down somewhat. The tree was clearly a sapling, but it was at least 12 feet tall and fairly straight up, so that rules out most bushes. My first assumption was an oak or maybe privet if that helps. It seems to be a white hardwood. Most of the trees in the yard are oaks, sweet gum, or pine. Occasionally I'll find a holly, but that's about it. The 'milk' that seeped out was a little sticky - reminded me of Elmer's school glue. I even went as far as to smell the stripped tree and it had a sweet odor, much like a cantaloupe or watermelon. No visible leaves or other 'accessories' appear around it, but that's not saying much this time of year after all the rain, wind, and other large leaves all around it.
I'm still thinking it's an oak, probably white oak or pen oak, but I'm just not sure. I've never seen one bleed sweet milk before. :P
Here are the pics:
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An oak wouldn't have a milky sap. That will be a main key to IDing the tree though. Right off, I don't know. Did you get any pics of the limb tips and buds?
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No buds, but I'll see if I can photo a tip tomorrow. Yeah, the milky thing certainly is not an oak trait, so what the heck is this thing?
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That bark kinda looks like a cross between a gum and an ash. I don't have a clue if either one of them bleed milky sap. No gum trees where I'm at - that's my wild stab in the dark, Ha ;).
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Hi, Milky sap and a small yellow heart. Looks like a mulberry to me. Ron
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I'm with Pat B on this one, not enough information to make a strong guess. My first impulse was Sumac, but I did do a web search and found many trees that have the milky sap characteristics. Is the wood fairly light weight.
Search the area and see if you can find another and mark it with a ribbon. As it matures you can use the leaves and perhaps blooms to identify it. Just set the debarked piece aside to dry until you can identify it.
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Yeah, but Mulberry is certainly a strong contender. I did some reading on it and it certainly matches. I bet those twigs have alternating buds on them and I just didn't pay close enough attention. Mulberry is also common around here. Not sure I'll find another in my yard though. I might ask the neighbors if they have a Mulberry on their property. Obviously, if it is indeed mulberry, it certainly qualifies as bow material. Actually, I'm making a bow from it no matter what I eventually identify it to be. I figure, why not? :D
I'm still open to more considerations...
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Tulip poplar? yellowpoplar
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I hadn't even thought about mulberry. White sap and the sapling growing out of another bush where the bird dropped the seed.
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I'm by f.ar no expert on tree identification, but me first guess was mulberry. I have a couple mullberry trees on my farm and the bark looks real similar.
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Mulberry is a common street tree in my neighborhood. I very recently collected some branches trimmed by a neighbor. The bark, sap and cut ends all look like what I just worked with. The few mulberry bows I've seen were worked down to the heartwood and treated like a slightly less dense osage. This obviously won't work with your tree ( or with the limbs I collected.) Ron
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Hello,
I am not american and I don't have a vast knowledge of american trees, but I think I've seen that tree before. By your description I think that tree is a tree called tree of heaven (ailantus altissima) a good for nothing invasive tree from china that has spreaded worlwide. The description matches perfectly the trees of that specie that I've cut in my country. (I wish it is not for it is a real biological ploblem)
http://www.google.es/images?um=1&hl=es&biw=711&bih=447&tbs=isch:1&sa=1&q=tree+of+heaven+bark&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=
Sergio.
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Mulberry has sap just like that, it also grows straight and true as you described although the bark looks a bit gray/dark compared to the whit/red mulb you get here in SA
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Thats sap (water) coming out. You say it's sweet I've tasted sweet gum and it has a really white sap thats sweet to the taste.
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Sure looks like sweatgum to me. we have alot of them and they can grow very fast in the first year or so. The bark lo :-\ks like Sweetgum
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Hey, crooketarrow, hillbilly61. Nope, the one tree I'm sure it's not is sweetgum. I know sweetgum (and those darned annoying balls that come with it). I actually questioned several times if this could be sweetgum, but I would have noticed a sweetgum in the front yard long ago I'd imagine. Good suggestion though.
Unless... the saplings don't produce the balls? That would make a difference. Ugh, now I'm questioning it again.
Thanks for all the responses.
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Shoemake or maybe red bud, is it pretty hard wood or kind of soft. Looks like from the rings it a fast grower.
Pappy
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The leaves and bark of ailanthus have a nasty musty smell, and I've never noted a milky sap. Ron
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I took a closer look at the tips and they have alternating buds very consistent with mulberry. I also did some more reading on the red mulberry and it sure sounds like the same tree. I'm going to move on it like it's mulberry, see if I can follow one growth ring for the back, and get that wood bending (after a few months of drying, of course).
Thanks!