Black bark on Maple tree?

[Ken Grunke]

I have been cutting firewood for a sister of mine on her property the last 3 days, lots of maple trees lucky girl 😛
One Maple tree stood out, with almost pure black bark from bottom to top. Almost 99% certain it isn't charring, black spray paint, or ink.
I have never seen this before.
Anyone have an idea what would cause this?

 

[MichaelMouse]

Maple bark changes appearance a lot from twig to maturity. Soft maple (A rubrum)often has near mature thinner, black bark versus the furrowed red-tinged type you expect to see.

I expect it's the same variability that gives some a thick dark heart and others nearly none, though the deeper in the shade the darker seems a fact.

 

[George Van Beynen]

Ken, we have a few "black sugar maple", when I encounter this on our woodlot I can usually find Sapsucker damage somewhere. I will look closer today when I have the grandchildren out for a 4-wheeler ride.

 

[MichaelMouse]

Now you've got me going, George. Seems I recall circles of sapsucker dots around some of those maples too. Have to look once things dry out again.

 

[Charlie Knighton]

pictures.........please

i have seen the holes, but never thought about them, something drums on our metal gutters about 2 times a summer, no clue

 

[Ken Grunke]

George, now that you mention it, I remember seeing small holes on that tree, like nail holes. I wonder if it's a northern Wisconsin thing, as sis's farm is up in your neck of the woods relatively speaking-- just outside of Ladysmith.

charlie, I'm back home now, waiting for her to send me a pic she took of the tree but might be a couple days. Sir Mouse, take your camera with you next trip out to the wood lot if you would. we could compare pics. I'm just curious about this and wonder if the wood beneath the bark might be something to oogle at, or not.

It also had horizontal lines, almost like cracks, randomly scattered around the trunk. I'll be back up there next year sometime and if the tree shows signs of damage and dying off, I might have the opportunity to do some exploratory surgery on the tree. Like, say, maybe even an amputation at about knee level (my knees, not the tree's) 😀

 

[Charlie Knighton]

sapsucker holes

i was kind of stuck with this candlestick, i thought i might see what a sapsucker hole looks like, the bottom 2 holes do not show in the picture very well 😀

any suggestions but no critrique, another learning experience