Wood identification - Osage Verses Mullberry

[Prarie Bowyer]

Is there a positive way to identify mullbery verses osage? 

I cut wood from a known mullberry tree (has berries hanging).  it was a kinda warm orange umber color but seasoning is turning it a kind of orange yellow.

I cut wood from what I thought was a down Osage tree and it was a flourescent yellow, like the osage stave I got from augie and 3 rivers.  It is seasoning to a kinda warm yellow. 

Now I can't tall the difference in the two logs. 

There was a moment when I thought perhaps I didn't have any Osage at all.   How can you tell for certain.

And when it is cut from the log Osage will be bright yellow correct?

Also the suspected osage smells "anticeptic" almost insecticidal ?  ??  it has a strong odor.  The mullberry just smells like wood.  They are are different right?

[PEARL DRUMS]

Google the bark on both. Totally different tree's.

[BOWMAN53]

ive only worked with mullberry once and there was a noticable different once i cut into it. mullberry is grittier and more porous than osage. idk if that makes sense or not 

[BOWMAN53]

osage kinda smells like pumpkin guts to me lol

[nakedfeet]

Isn't the osage considerably more dense? Which one is heavier?

I know that if they were cut at different times, are different sizes, have different moisture contents, that might be hard to judge. But still. The osage should be more dense.

Standard SG test?

[Buckeye Guy]

Typically the Osage will be heavier and have tighter growth rings

[DarkSoul]

One helpful characteristic that can help separate [osage] from lookalikes such as Mulberry or Black Locust (besides being heavier) is that Osage Orange contains a water-soluble yellow dye, so putting shavings into water will turn the water yellow.

(Source)

[Prarie Bowyer]

Thanks DS.  comparing the two above it looks like Mullberryis MORE ELASTIC?  and almost as heavy and 1/2 as hard? 

The colors looked different on the page.  I know when I get into my self harvested osage from last year it dosent feel as dense as the stuff I've bought.  I figured that was a tree specific thing.

What about the bright yellow saw dust when cutting new?

[osage outlaw]

I don't know anything about mulberry but I have cut osage that is light colored and very light weight so I don't think wood color and weight would be a good way to tell them apart.

[JonW]

I agree that Osage smells like insecticide. Whit Mulberry has less of an aroma than red but they both smell kind sweet to me. Osage fresh cut is totally different color than Mulberry. All the Osage I have cut is either mustard yellow or a slightly lighter bright yellow. I'm talking live wood.

[TimothyR]

Look at the growth rings Mulberry generally as thicker rings than Osage.

[Prarie Bowyer]

I agree that Osage smells like insecticide. Whit Mulberry has less of an aroma than red but they both smell kind sweet to me. Osage fresh cut is totally different color than Mulberry. All the Osage I have cut is either mustard yellow or a slightly lighter bright yellow. I'm talking live wood.

Phew! -   you making me feel better.  The Mulberry I cut was an orangish tan then turned yellow. 

[Prarie Bowyer]

Oh this is interesting!

TBB vol 1 remarks on Mullberry state that it cam be used with white and heart wood similar to yew.

Comparing Yew and Mullberry on the "Wood Data base" they are VERY similar BUT Yew crushes mulberry in crushing strength.... pun intended.

In terms of density and elasticity.  Crushing strength and modulus of rupture... yew wins out pretty clearly.