Something a little more mundane than black panthers and odd snakes...

[Guest Jamie]

The tree's about 12 years old... the others of it's kind about 10 or 11.

It doesn't grow as fast as say a Tulip Polar, but not as slow as an Oak or Hickory... I don't think.

It's pretty much one I noticed, but ignored... and now it's big enough to require some maintenance to keep it out of the power and cable TV lines.

It's growing in fairly well-drained soil, that's a mixture of topsoil and pea gravel. But it does get plenty of water.

I'd have to say it's most dominant feature/characteristic is that it's all.... kinky. It's a mess... a nest of tangles, kinks, and crooked lines. Or that's what it looks like at first glance, anyway...

... and the bark is apparently gonna get rougher as it gets older, if the bottom of the trunk is any indication.

With that, and the pictures I've provided, you know as much about it as I do.

Sorry.

Edited April 20, 2011 by Jamie

[Guest Lester Weevils]

I didn't pay much attention to those african trees except they had smooth green bark and grew fast tall and skinny. An oak and dogwood and maple is about the only trees I can recognize.

Assuming that charity sent out a whole bunch of those free seed packets, was just wondering maybe you are searching the wrong continent for the identity of the tree, if you haven't found it in common domestic types.

[Guest Jamie]

The bark on this one is smooth and gray, with some bluish patches, when it's young... but it's changing to a rougher texture like a Hickory as it get's older.

Hell, it may be a Hickory, of some sort.

The leaves, if you can't tell from the pic, alternate. They don't grow right straight across from each other, in pairs. Of every bunch I've counted, there alwayse seems to be 7 to each compound leaf. Not 8, not 6.... Not 9 or 11. 7.

And the twig or stem seems to zig-zag between bunches.... it's not one straight shot from the first set of compound leaves to the last. There's always a jog or change in direction between one and the next.

[safeandsecure]

Jamie, I'm probably dead wrong, but from the pix, my first thought was an ash ... maybe a white ash? or could be a green ash?

Ah, been a while since I was in the woods (like about 30 years), so my "rememberer" ain't what it used to be. But it seems like with an ash, you can slice through the outer bark, and find a lighter colored inner bark. If you think it might could be an ash, that might help confirm it.

[Guest Jamie]

I think it could possibly be an Ash, but I have no idea what variety... and can find no picture to confirm the theory.

The real problem is that Ash trees have their leaves across from each other, like this:

... the ones on this tree are staggered.

Edited April 20, 2011 by Jamie

[safeandsecure]

I think you're right about the leaflets. I was also thinking that Ash bark was smooth when young, then a kind of diamond-pattern showed up as it ages. Bark can be a variety of colors, if memory serves. And seems that the leaflets were in sevens. That's about all I can recall. Sorry, bro.

Actually, I was kinda hoping that it was an Ash, since you mentioned walking sticks. Anything used for baseball bats and boat paddles ought to make a good walking stick ... right? (Not that I've ever whittled one out)

[Guest bkelm18]

I went to a site similar to that and didn't have any luck. Could be 'cause I don't know enough about tree anatomy, or possibly that the tree is too young to produce fruit, etc.

As for it being native... all I know is that it and the others are all volunteers; I didn't plant 'em.

Fruit doesn't necessarily mean what you think is fruit, like the stuff you buy in the store. Fruit means anything that contains the seed. If you need any help with the dichot. key, I can try. I'm a Bio major.

[Mike.357]

Oh, Mike... after thinking about it, I'm pretty sure your "stink trees" are Sumac.

Yeah, they grow like crazy, are near impossible to kill, and have a hollow core like bamboo.

Look familiar? :

you might be right about them trees. The next night I get home early enough to take a pic I will do so. I don't recall the red bud on them though, but hell I am half senile and they may happen and I don't recall. Leaves look right.

[safeandsecure]

Jamie, you've probably already thought about it, but its possible that your local UT Ag agent (or a local logger) could identify it for you.

[Mike.357]

here are three pics of the trees I question. I took these at my mother in laws today, they are the same as the ones I have. She did not recall them getting the red buds either.

These have got to be near fifty feet tall, they weren't there 8 years ago.

here is a bark shot

and here is a close up of a shorter version so the leaves could be seen more closely

[Guest Jamie]

Hey guys... Sorry I've fallen off the face of the earth again, especially with a thread I started.

Unfortunately, those storms that rolled through last tues. night/wed. morning put my phone and internet out of commission for half a day.... and some events have occurred since then that are probably gonna keep me away from here for a while... possibly even permanently. I dunno.

One way or the other, the Mystery Tree is suddenly not all that important.

I'll try to check back in when I can, but I can't make any promises. I may not even have mind enough to post when I can get here.

Oh, and Mike... that does look like Sumac trees. And the ones around here only have the red bloom late in the year, before the tree loses it's leaves for the winter. At least that's what I recall of them. Can't really say I've paid that much attention to 'em. I usually just cut 'em down when they end up in the way.

Edited April 24, 2011 by Jamie

[Mike.357]

good luck with whatever is causing you strife Jamie