compartmentalisation on Populus alba ?

[elicokiz]

Hi Folks

Can anyone clarify the staining in the middle of the stem section as decay [im assuming thats what it is] however never worked on this species before. The trees look healthy and are being removed to allow light into a walled garden' there are probably 20 trees in close proximity; the three we have worked on so far all showed similar staining so was at bit suprised? Is there any way this could just be heartwood formation ? [i'm assuming not?]

 

#

 

regards

Dave

[easy-lift guy]

That is unusual for sure, never seen over here.

easy-lift guy

[David Humphries]

Poplar wont have true heartwood as it is a diffuse species tree & not ring porous (like oak/elm)

 

This may be a False Heart Wood also described as Wet Wood, where the centre has a higher water content than the sapwood.

 

 

How did it smell?

 

FHW/Wet wood will have anaerobic bacterial activity which results in that fermented type smell.

 

Not entirely sure what the streaks are away from the centre but may be connected via rays to the FHW

 

 

.

[elicokiz]

Poplar wont have true heartwood as it is a diffuse species tree & not ring porous (like oak/elm)

 

This may be a False Heart Wood also described as Wet Wood, where the centre has a higher water content than the sapwood.

 

 

How did it smell?

 

FHW/Wet wood will have anaerobic bacterial activity which results in that fermented type smell.

 

Not entirely sure what the streaks are away from the centre but may be connected via rays to the FHW

 

 

.

 

Thanks David

 

Thats intresting, I hadn't thought of differing species having differing ring properties :blushing:something new to look up The smell is unusual the only wood I have smelled like it is Catalpa, it has a tobacco like odour. It doesnt smell at all like other species of poplar ive ever had a whiff of:laugh1:

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

your odd streaks may be old sap sucker wounds, they fit the pattern.