Is This A Maple, Or Something Else?

[themoonlighttapper]

I hate to do this, but we are having difficulty identifying this tree. Part of it looks very much like a maple, but the horizontal markings have us confused. Although we can pick out most maples, we have several trees that look like this.. still novices I guess. 15100151011510015101Can you guys help?

[psparr]

Looks like a birch

[madmapler]

I agree. Black birch. If you can reach a twig it should taste like wintergreen.

[BAP]

Black Birch it is.

[wishlist]

I agree with what was said previously. One trick that can help you identify maples is look at the ends of the branches. Maples and Ash will have opposing branches from the main stem . Oaks, birch, ect....have staggered branches coming off a stem .

[Pauly V]

hands down Birch.

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[themoonlighttapper]

Thanks guys! You all on here are the best.

[Chickenman]

if you have enough birch, could make Birch syrup but I understand that it is closer to 80 to 1 for a gallon.

[ADK_XJ]

Birch. Remember when there aren't leaves you can look at the limbs:

"Maples are unique from many other deciduous trees in that it buds in pairs and has opposite branches (branches come out at the same point on the parent branch on opposite sides)."

[Sugar Bear]

This is a Birch. Black Birch I would bet about $1000 even odds. I don't have a hell of a lot of money either.

If you crack off a twig and it has a very sweet smell like root beer its a Black Birch.

No maple twig of any kind will ever smell as sweet as the Black Birch.

I think the Yellow Birch is a better syrup maker.

[Rockport]

I agree ,like Wishlist said the branches are opposite. All Maples,Ash and Buckeye trees have this type.Red are less in sugar but dont pass them up. I see you are in Wv too.. I am in Rockport ,western side not far from Parkersburg. Planning on tapping next weekend,when are you ?

[themoonlighttapper]

I agree ,like Wishlist said the branches are opposite. All Maples,Ash and Buckeye trees have this type.Red are less in sugar but dont pass them up. I see you are in Wv too.. I am in Rockport ,western side not far from Parkersburg. Planning on tapping next weekend,when are you ?

We're right outside of Beckley. Yes, next weekend looks like the time to us. The week after has a bunch of 30s-40s highs and 20s lows.. hope it holds up. Can't wait!

[maple flats]

To ID maples, look for opposite branching. for this you need to look at smaller branches because most often one side of a opposite pair get broken off. The next is to look at the buds. This time of year a sugar (and black) maple will have tight, pointed buds, all others have non pointed buds (look at the tips of the small branches). Most other maples have wide rather flat bud tips.