Any guess?
- Thread starter ruskbucks
- Start date
I looked up some pictures of Beech. It does look like it. The land is in far NW WI. They had a chart that had beech trees only on the east side of the state along the lake. I wish I would of looked to see if it was growing out of a stump or just a shrub.
Bill
Administrator
Bowsnbucks
5 year old buck +
Beech. Leaves hang on into deep winter. We have them here.
j-bird
Moderator
My initial reaction was beech as well....but after looking closely at the pic I tend to agree in that it's ironwood and not beech. Beech bark is much lighter in color, like a light grey color. Beech also doesn't have the compound serrated edges that I am seeing as well. The leaf edge may be impossible to see if your using a mobile device....I have it up on my desktop monitor and you can see the detail much better there.
j-bird
Moderator
My opinion and experience tells me that when you log or clear an area you are more than likely to get more of the same things to grow as what you just removed...UNLESS you specifically plant something else. So my gut tells me that unless you had/have hazelnut already, it more than likely isn't. It's not impossible that it is, but it's very unlikely.
Ironwood isn't bad...it's just not very useful. I was told that if you have the plan to change the timber type in an area, your better off doing a clear cut and planting what you want...and then be VERY patient.
I am not familiar with hazelnut to tell you if what you have pictured is that or not...
Ironwood isn't bad...it's just not very useful. I was told that if you have the plan to change the timber type in an area, your better off doing a clear cut and planting what you want...and then be VERY patient.
I am not familiar with hazelnut to tell you if what you have pictured is that or not...
H20fwler
5 year old buck +
Not hazelnut, they drop their leaves and leaves are smaller and rounder. Hazelnuts are covered in hanging catkins this time of year.
Thanks guys. I was hopeful it was hazelnut. I guess that would explain why it is not getting browsed. I'm pretty sure hazelnut is high on their preference list. My forester did say I had some hazelnut, I have just not noticed any. If this is beech/ironwood I take it that it doesn't have much wildlife value?
j-bird
Moderator
Ironwood - its a small tree seldom getting big enough to put a stand into. It's an understory tree/large shrub. The wood is very hard (I have had sparks fly when cutting with a chainsaw) but very durable, but because it doesn't get big in size it has minimal timber use. The leaves tend to not be browsed and it doesn't drop any nut or fruit of interest to deer. Its only deer related use that I am aware of is ground level cover...because it holds its leaves.
Beech - can get HUGE! They too hold their leaves late but being a bigger tree will eventually support a stand and is great for hiding stands in. They also produce a nut that woodland critters...including deer like. I find the squirrels and turkey like the beechnuts more so than the deer. Beech as they get old tend to hollow out and can often times become great homes for cavity nesting critters. The wood itself doesn't have much timber value but it burns hot as a firewood. Beech are very shade tolerant but produce a dense canopy of shade as they mature as well. I have not seen beech browsed much either by deer (only time I have seen it was from a large stump that got full sun and sprouted).
I would keep either around for ground level cover and then cut them back as needed once they get too big to do much good. If you have a clearing with full sun I would suggest planting something you lack...trees or shrubs to provide something of more benefit. I big tangle of beneficial shrubs with a few oaks with the scattering of these trees for some cover could make a nice habitat. If you don't plant something and manage it your going to get back more of what you removed...maybe that is good, maybe it's not. But it appears you have a chance to introduce some diversity.
Beech - can get HUGE! They too hold their leaves late but being a bigger tree will eventually support a stand and is great for hiding stands in. They also produce a nut that woodland critters...including deer like. I find the squirrels and turkey like the beechnuts more so than the deer. Beech as they get old tend to hollow out and can often times become great homes for cavity nesting critters. The wood itself doesn't have much timber value but it burns hot as a firewood. Beech are very shade tolerant but produce a dense canopy of shade as they mature as well. I have not seen beech browsed much either by deer (only time I have seen it was from a large stump that got full sun and sprouted).
I would keep either around for ground level cover and then cut them back as needed once they get too big to do much good. If you have a clearing with full sun I would suggest planting something you lack...trees or shrubs to provide something of more benefit. I big tangle of beneficial shrubs with a few oaks with the scattering of these trees for some cover could make a nice habitat. If you don't plant something and manage it your going to get back more of what you removed...maybe that is good, maybe it's not. But it appears you have a chance to introduce some diversity.
Bowsnbucks
5 year old buck +
Our beech here starts off as clumps and clusters - almost like hair, then self-thins to the dominant ones. And the young bark is darker than a few years later when it turns light gray and is fairly smooth.
But I think J-bird is right on the ironwood. After looking closer at the pic, I believe he's right about the compound serrated leaves.
I didn't know ironwood leaves hung on that long though, like our beeches do. Never hurts to learn !!
But I think J-bird is right on the ironwood. After looking closer at the pic, I believe he's right about the compound serrated leaves.
I didn't know ironwood leaves hung on that long though, like our beeches do. Never hurts to learn !!
Livesintrees
5 year old buck +
Def beech. Those leaves will hang until the new growth begins. They hinge well too if your careful
Again, it isn't beech if it's in western WI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagus_grandifolia#/media/File:Fagus_grandifolia_range_map_1.png
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagus_grandifolia#/media/File:Fagus_grandifolia_range_map_1.png
rocksnstumps
5 year old buck +
Agree, leaf serrations are too fine to be beech. At least the beech we have in NE WI and on my land. But yes, young beech really like to hang on to those leaves through winter. I also have tons of ironwood. They are pretty bare looking right now. Can't seem to remember if the really young ones can keep leaves though. Oddly enough, I have seen the occasional blackberry cane keep leaves a real long time. I might even go long odds and say it's not a tree. I did see a bunch of hazelnut brush on some land in Central WI today, they are bare for leaves. So not beech but something.....see how helpful that is!
