Author Topic: Anybody know what kind of tree this is?  (Read 1933 times)

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Offline J05H

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Anybody know what kind of tree this is?
« on: June 21, 2014, 08:05:17 pm »
We have several of these on my dad's place, and he's planning to cut them in a week or so. I'm just curious whether or not they'll make a decent bow wood. I'm probably gonna split some staves any way just to experiment, but I'd like to know what I've got if anybody can help me. Here are the pics.





If you never have time to do it right, you'll always have time to do it over.

Offline DarkSoul

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Re: Anybody know what kind of tree this is?
« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2014, 08:11:49 pm »
It's in the Bignoniaceae family.
Has pretty light weight and weak wood. Not worth the trouble for bows.

I'm letting myself down for not remembering the species name...dang, it's on the tip of my tongue...not Catalpa, but....?!
Got it! Paulownia tomentosa.
Actually not in the Bignoniaceae family, but in the Paulowniaceae family. My bad. Looks awefully similar to many Bignoniaceae plants though...the leaves and flowers are a perfect match.
« Last Edit: June 21, 2014, 08:29:45 pm by DarkSoul »
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Offline J05H

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Re: Anybody know what kind of tree this is?
« Reply #2 on: June 21, 2014, 08:16:49 pm »
OK thanks man. You just saved me lot of wasted time and effort.
If you never have time to do it right, you'll always have time to do it over.

Offline Pat B

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Re: Anybody know what kind of tree this is?
« Reply #3 on: June 21, 2014, 11:28:32 pm »
I think its good carving wood and revered in Japan for dowry boxes but worthless for bows.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline wapiti1997

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Re: Anybody know what kind of tree this is?
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2014, 08:27:51 pm »
Yep, paulownia  - non-native invasive, soft, fast growing wood.

Offline 4dog

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Re: Anybody know what kind of tree this is?
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2014, 08:53:32 pm »
catawba??
"SET" is always there !!!

Offline nakedfeet

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Re: Anybody know what kind of tree this is?
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2014, 10:00:59 pm »
4dog, if you mean Catalpa, that was my first thought too. The leaves look the same. The bark not so much, and the fruit looks completely different.  I believe DarkSoul is right.

Offline Pat B

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Re: Anybody know what kind of tree this is?
« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2014, 12:55:47 am »
Purple flowers or white flowers?
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline J05H

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Re: Anybody know what kind of tree this is?
« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2014, 03:26:11 am »
It doesn't have any flowers right yet this year and I can't remember what color they were.
If you never have time to do it right, you'll always have time to do it over.

Offline Pat B

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Re: Anybody know what kind of tree this is?
« Reply #9 on: June 23, 2014, 09:27:21 am »
Those are seed pods on the tree now so they have already loomed. I still say Paulonia.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline okie64

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Re: Anybody know what kind of tree this is?
« Reply #10 on: June 23, 2014, 10:06:04 am »
Here ya go, I was wandering the same thing a couple months ago.
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,45158.msg611364.html#msg611364