Please help me identify this

simplejack

First let me say that I am aware that I have almost nothing but the bottom 1/3 of the trunk that has also been whittled. I know that I am stretching on someone being able to help on this, but I figured why not give it a shot.

Location found : Southern New Jersey, United States

Unfortunately for me, I did not take note of any of the leaves, buds, etc when this was taken.

The only thing I can be sure of is that it was about 8-10 feet tall at the time it was cut and that the below the bark has a great pink, then brown color before it turns to white.

Thanks in advance for any help that might be provided.

Attached Thumbnails

         

Garry Brockley

almost imposssible to correctly id that stick it could be an Ulmus parvifolia if it looked like this Ulmus parvifolia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia other wise i think this is one of the longest shots weve ever had on here.

__________________

simplejack

I figured it would be a super long shot b/c of the lack of information that I have available.

I can add that it most definitely is not something that was planted as landscape and was native growing. Not sure how much help that is though.

I am really just looking for something that can be carved in the same manner, meaning that the layers under the bark are very different in color. The pinkish/red along with the brown and of course the white make it a very fun thing to carve without being a artist and being able to make a face or eagle type of thing out of the top.

I just had a spinal fusion and was using the stick for support while walking. When I would get tired I would find somewhere to sit and take out my knife and carve as I rested. I found it very nice (almost therapeutic) and would just like to find something similar to work with.

Thank you for your response. I love trees and just finding this site is such a wonderful thing, even if I can not determine what the type of wood is.

Eden Keeper

I'd be surprised if this isn't crape-myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica L., which can appear to be growing naturally since it will persist long after any other signs of habitation are gone. Furthermore, crape-myrtle exhibits exactly the traits desired in a hiking stave due to being strong yet light weight, easily carved (as depicted), and readily available due to both widespread use as an ornamental and frequent heavy pruning (since more flowers are produced on the resulting vigorous new growth). Based on this I suggest pruning them in a manner that would regularly produce a hiking stave and likely be much more aesthetically pleasing than the hack job version of a pollard often referred to as crape-murder.

Chimera

I could have sworn I already posted in this thread. Did you remake it?

I think it could be a black cherry (Prunus serotina), but that's just a guess.

I started carving a black cherry walking stick, and it seemed to have similar layers of color as this, but that's really the only reason I think it's a black cherry.

Brent Ferris

I think I heard the University of Wisconsin has a large bank of wood specimens, and if you could send two small samples to them (like 1" x 1" x 1/16") they could probably ID it for you. Chimera might be able to provide you with more info - UofW is in his territory.

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)

simplejack

Thanks for the suggestion. I think I could hack off that much to attempt to determine what it is.

Thanks again for all the replies. Very nice board you all have here.

MattyD

How about looking up "Striped maple" (Acer pensylvanicum). They are very easy too make walking sticks out of on the fly. They tend to be in the understories of our forests
Just a thought