Black Locust or Japanese Pagoda Tree ???

[Japbow]

      Hey There all!

      I cut a tree down recently that I thought was Black Locust
      but now I'm not so sure... Is it Japanese Pagoda Tree?

      The endcut looks the same as BL with about the right color
      and heart/sapwood ratio, but the bark is not as coarse as
      BL. Since they are closely related, I wonder if they perhaps
      hybridize? The leaves are identical on both making it harder
      to ID. I grabbed some seed pods which seem to support it
      being BL, but the bark is throwing me... It will probably make
      a decent bow regardless and I will cure it and proceed in
      that direction. There is a lot of this tree in my area and will
      surely cut more, so I would like to get a definitive ID.

      BTW, has anyone made a bow from Japanese Pagoda Tree
      (sophora japonica)? I believe it's planted as an ornamental
      tree in the states as well.

      Anyway, here are some pics... Any input is greatly appreciated 

      Japbow.

[TacticalFate]

Japanese Pagoda Tree doesnt have thorns. Also, if the pods match for locust, you're good, fruit is the most definite identifier of a tree

[Hamish]

Looks like locust to me, but never having seen pagoda trees I don't know either. The only thing I could find said pagoda tree timber was strong and flexible, so split it up into bow staves and treat it like locust, and you should be alright.

[turmoiler]

Did the tree have flowers?
Were they white or pink?

Black locust hybridises quite easily, there are several gardening varieties, I think that this tree is one of those, the rings are too thick and the bark is not very coarse for a common black locust tree. Robinia Pseudoacacia x hispida is my bet.

https://www.google.es/search?q=robinia+pseudoacacia+hispida&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=KukRUpupLrCw7AbgkYDIAw&ved=0CDMQsAQ&biw=960&bih=542

[blackhawk]

Ring thickness isn't a way to identify a tree species,and I've seen plenty of locust with those size rings....that's a fast growing tree,and its only 13 years old(a young immature tree)and hasn't had a chance to grow the mature bark yet(its deep furrows)..its prob black locust from what I can see,but you haven't shown any leaves or fruits? So can't say for certain....

[Japbow]

      Thanks for the input!

      Here's a pic of the seed pods...

      Oh! and one more thing...It splits WAY TOO EASILY
      for BL from my limited experience. I split a 12 in. BL
      log once and it was like a fight to the death. I eventually
      won, but I ended up with several blisters on both hands.

      Japbow

[TacticalFate]

that's locust, no doubt

[blackhawk]

How a wood splits is also another way of how NOT to identify species...I've had easy locust to split,and nasty stuff to split...I've had easy hickory,and murderous hickory...easy osage,and well you get the point...looks like locust to me too,and excellent stuff at that

[Japbow]

      Great! I'm super stoked! The tree had 3 straight trunk
      sections which will provide scores of decent staves.
      Once it's cured, it should keep me busy for quite a while.

      Thanks all!

      Japbow.

[koan]

Looks like most the BL i have cut. We trimmed alot of BL from my Dads, they were growin way to close together so most wernt more than 10-12" across and 80' tall and mostly limbless for atleast 20'... Easiest wood I ever split. There are several mullberry close by and the BL that was close had yellow to green heartwood??? Once it got air to it, the color faded fast.. I dont know if its a hybredizing thing or somethin in the soil... made us scratch our heads tho... Brian