Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Almostpighunter on March 27, 2011, 10:16:25 pm
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This seems to be a pretty commonly used landscaping tree here in Vegas. Been growing out of comtrol for 8 years and had to trim on of the trunks as you may be able to see in the first pic. Anyone know what it is and if it can be used to make a bow. The remaining trunk is singing to me :D
Pic 1: whole tree
Pic 2: trunk section and brnach
Pic 3: cross section (already started to split when I realized I better take a pic)
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Can you take a pic of the leaves?
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i agree leaves or fruit or pods..john
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Pics of leaves added ;D . Thanks @ Acutus & Blacktail
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we are going to have to get pat...i am up in the air on this...BUT,my guess is black willow...pat,is one of the main people for this..john
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Blacktail and I are thinking along the same lines. the one thing that stops me is the leaves seem to grow in groups of three. Leaf shape definitely suggest willow though. I'm only using one book right now too I have others to check but won't have them til at least tomorrow.
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As this is Las Vegas, I hope I did not mislead by giving the impression that this is a tree native to the area. The desert environment here means that most of the trees that are used in landscaping here are from somewhere else which is probably the case here. Other than tumbleweeds, cactus and neon signs, I have no idea what comes out of the ground here.
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yeah it could be almost from anywhere. I have other books that cover commonly used landscaping trees as well as native. So hopefully one of those will help or someone else will know. :)
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my guess would be some sort of willow, the leaves look like my native willow, but different bark ???
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Willow!
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Willow, very little doubt.
I don't know what kind however.
You could do a SG test to see what kinnda bow you could make from it.
Mesquite grows round there, Ive seen in.
I guess some have made decent bows from it.
There are also oaks in the canyons and drainages, seen em too.
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Thanks guys! Don't know if the pieces I cut will make a viable bow or not, but if they do its gonna have some crazy snake to it (WHEEEE!!!!!). My wife also gave me the go ahead to cut the rest of that one trunk, so there may be some straighter pieces as well. Of course, I'll report it here, whatever the outcome may be ;D.
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It dose look like willow limbs and leaves but not the bark, willows use'lly grow from a single trunk. But I say it's some sort of yard ordament tree.
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It does resemble Eucalyptus a bit... Do the (fresh) leaves have that typical smell when bruised?
I'm not sure though.
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I would have said willow too but the leaves are opposed, on willow they are alternate. ???
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Its probably this : Salix orestera is a species of willow known by the common name Sierra willow, or gray-leafed Sierra willow. It is native to the Sierra Nevada of California and western Nevada, where it grows in moist areas in high mountain subalpine and alpine climates. It can also be found in Oregon
Hope that helps ;D
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sierra willow is more of a tree
Oops got distracted as I was posting this I meant more of a shrub not a tree. :D
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Wow, well I spoke with the landscaping company that put it in when we first moved into the house. The tree is AFRICAN SUMAC. Geez, they really go far and wide to find trees that will survive here in the desert. I have no idea if this is any kind of derivitive of willow or pepper tree but at least we have an answer. It seems REALLY hard to split/cut but that doesn't necessarily mean its any good for bow wood. Still, I'm cutting that one trunk down and as I don't like to waste wood an attempt will be made. Let you know my progress. - Mike
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Mike, did they give you a botanical name. Common names are not reliable for ID purposes.
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Guess that's why my books never showed it! LOL I agree with Pat though. A scientific name would allow you to find out more about it.
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Rhus lancea is the botanical name. It seems to match the Google pics I can find. I never thought it would be a sumac species, so it surprises me!
The wood is hard, tough and durable with a reddish brown colour, close grained and heavy (air-dry 1040kg/m3)
Sounds good ;)
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Just looked up the scientific name and found that Darksoul beat me to it ;D. Also found out it is a relative (or in the same tree species group) as Cashew. Things might be looking up for bow making.