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identification of wood

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Dec 1, 2005
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St. Joseph, IL
Does someone have or know of a good reference to use and learn from for the identification of different species of trees during growing seasons, during dormancy and after they have been cut down?
 
There are a number of good field guides for identifying trees while they are still alive (growing or dormant). The one I use is the Peterson Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs. I picked that particular guide simply because I already had several other books in that series and was familiar with the layout.

Identifying lumber can be much more challenging. I'd recommend R. Bruce Hoadley's book Identifying Wood:..., which is available from most book sellers and many wookworking stores.
 
The Perterson Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs is a "standard" on the subject of identification for the non-botanist. Unfortunately it does not help unless you have leaves to identify. I have several other titles which show wood slices in color, but none of them is very comprehensive... ie, you potentially have to look in several books to find anything that is not common. Do a search for "Forest Research Labs". I think they have on line identification helps.

Ron Wilson
 
It may be more than you're after, but R. Bruce Hoadley's book Identifying Wood is fairly definitive along with its predecessor, Understanding Wood . It's a matter of how specific and scientific you want to get.

Whit
 
Gary7,
You don't say what part of the country you are from. Trees you are likely to find vary a great deal in different regions. Trees in florida are different than trees in Maryland. For example the Tulip poplar so commmon in Maryland is rare and semi-coveted in Florida.

Most local clubs have a locally renowned wood identification member. Find your local version of Clark Davidson or Dave Barriger and ask them what books they reccomend for your area. Local Universities may have tree identification publications and maybe web sites to aid in regional identifications.

Another issue is yard trees where native tree books fail. In Maryland there were lots of non-native like Chinese Chestnut, Osage Orange, Redwoods, chinese elm and lots of others. In Florida this list seem endless.

Happy Turning,
Al
 
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