Tree ID Help

[ajbruggink]

Heh guys, I've got this tree in my backyard that has some limbs that look like they'd make good staves but I'm not sure what kind of this tree is. My mom has lived in our house since she was 10 but she doesn't know what kind of tree it is. My guess is that its either a slippery elm or some kind of ash tree. What do you guys think it is?
 

[Sasquatch]

Looks like some kind of hickory, get a better pic of the leaves that might help. 

[Hrothgar]

The leaves are saying hickory, bitternut I think.

[ajbruggink]

Here's a better pic of the leaf

[Hrothgar]

Pretty sure its bitternut hickory. Not quite as strong as shagbark or mockernut, but its still good. No. 1 choice for many BBQ fans.

[ajbruggink]

Thanks, Hrothgar. I was hoping it was an elm or an ash, oh well.

[PatM]

Bitternut tends to be smoother. How large is the trunk?

[Pat B]

My first thought is ash of some sort.

[PatM]

It does look more like Ash but we don't have the types of Hickory that do have bark like that to say for sure.
 You need to spread the leaves out to get a better look at their configuration.

[bushboy]

Kinda looks like a green ash?

[okie64]

Looks like ash to me. If the leaves are opposite each other its an ash, if they are  alternate its a hickory. Hickories turn bright yellow in the fall and it looks like those leaves are turning a reddish purple color which would also indicate its an ash.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Looks very ashy like bark to me.

[Mooseman78]

the best way to tell if its ash or hickory is to see if the leaves are opposite or alternate, look at the branches and twigs and if the leaves are opposite of each other its ash, maple, vibernum, etc and if the leaves are alternate of each other (off set ) its hickory, elm, etc 

[DarkSoul]

Here's a better pic of the leaf

No, that is a pic of a leaflet. There is a big difference between a leaflet and a leaf. Compound leaves, such as hickories, black locust or ashes, consist of a number of leaflets (3 to 15 mostly, nearly always an odd number). Identification of a species is very difficult with only pics of the bark and leaflets. Post a pic of the leaves: preferably several leaves, attached to a branch, so we can see the arrangement of the leaves on the branch and the appearance of the buds.

[DavidV]

Look at the ground, if it has nut shells it's hickory. I can't tell what it is with those pictures but bitternut hickory or ash seem likely.