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Hardwood true of false


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As has been said before, the classification of the plant kingdom was developed by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist, in 1758. As woodsmen, we are only concerned with the order 'spermatophytes' which includes all the seed bearing plants. There are two sub divisions based on how the seeds are carried, namely 'gymnosperms' & 'angiosperms'. The former are commonly known as 'softwoods' & the latter as 'hardwoods'.

Linnaeus was not concerned with any consideration of qualities as firewood.

As has also been said before, 'dry wood burns, water doesn't' so I happily sell whatever dry wood I have without any consideration as to whether someone else calls it hard or soft.

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As has been said before, the classification of the plant kingdom was developed by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist, in 1758. As woodsmen, we are only concerned with the order 'spermatophytes' which includes all the seed bearing plants. There are two sub divisions based on how the seeds are carried, namely 'gymnosperms' & 'angiosperms'. The former are commonly known as 'softwoods' & the latter as 'hardwoods'.

Linnaeus was not concerned with any consideration of qualities as firewood.

As has also been said before, 'dry wood burns, water doesn't' so I happily sell whatever dry wood I have without any consideration as to whether someone else calls it hard or soft.

 

spot on :thumbup:

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When you can tell which is what here's an old guide to how they burn (rough idea) Note that all woods burn better when seasoned and some burn better when split rather than as whole logs. In general the better woods for burning that you are most likely to come by (including non-native species) are:

 

Apple and pear – burning slowly and steadily with little flame but good heat. The scent is also pleasing.

 

Ash – the best burning wood providing plenty of heat (will also burn green but you should not need to do this!)

 

Beech and hornbeam – good when well seasoned

 

Birch – good heat and a bright flame – burns quickly.

 

Blackthorn and hawthorn – very good – burn slowly but with good heat

 

Cherry – also burns slowly with good heat and a pleasant scent.

 

Cypress – burns well but fast when seasoned, and may spit

 

Hazel – good, but hazel has so many other uses hopefully you won’t have to burn it!

 

Holly – good when well seasoned

 

Horse Chestnut – good flame and heating power but spits a lot.

 

Larch – fairly good for heat but crackles and spits

 

Maple – good.

 

Oak – very old dry seasoned oak is excellent, burning slowly with a good heat

 

Pine – burns well with a bright flame but crackles and spits

 

Poplar – avoid all poplar wood – it burns very slowly with little heat – which is why poplar is used to make matchsticks.

 

Willow – very good – in fact there is growing interest in biomass production of coppiced willow as a fuel.

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How long before someone posts that flaming <no pun intended> poem about ash being fit for a queen & so on...........

 

If you're a woodsman or a firewood merchant, you should know your woods & their qualities, & be able to share that with your customers.

 

If you sell firewood only two types of wood matter....wet and dry:)

 

http://www.kinnoirwoodfuel.co.uk

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Hardwoods are broad leaves, softwoods are evergreens! Sums it up pretty much.

 

To go into detail it's to do with the vessels in the wood, where hardwood is made up of xylem vessels, and softwoods use tracheids to transport nutrients.

 

Quercus ilex???????!!!!!!

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