Help identifying sticks

[cedarshavings]

Can anyone tell me what these might be? They seem to grow in clusters and get to be over six feet before they start branching out. I found some pictures of Aspen where the bark looks similar but none that show the arrow shaped markings.

Thanks
Steve

[AlArchie]

Definitely NOT aspen. From the photo of the habitat, it almost looks like it's the STALK of some type of grass or sedge or even yucca (agave). Though there are known yucca populations in Tenn., there does not appear to be any of the fleshy leaf clustrs near the ground, so I'd pretty well eliminate that as an option. Or it could be a tree growing in among some grasses, but there are no indications of branches growing from the stalk.

If there were signs of branches I'd say it looks like a member of the birch or cherry families. Maybe those arrow shaped scars are where branches have been broken off the main staff. Is that what are piled up around the base?

Al

[cedarshavings]

Al, no those aren't branches on the ground, just dead weeds. I have run across these in different locations and they all have the same arrow shape on them. I have seen some full grown aspen trees that have large arrow shapes on the trunk. On the bigger trees they look more like an eye and that's why I was wondering, but the bark in between the arrows does look like some aspen bark I found on the internet. Under the bark is a light colored wood and not fragile like a lot of stalks. I'll let them dry and see how they carve but still curious as to what it is.....Thanks

[Hohenems]

I don't know what grows in your neck of the woods, but the leaf scar (the arrow looking thing) and the twig size look an awful lot like the members of the walnut family (black walnut and butternut) up here. Definitely not aspen, cherry, or birch for that matter, I'd bet the farm on that. Judging by the cluster photo, I'd hazard a guess and say that if you looked around there more you'd find an old stump...the shoots look like stump sprouts.

Again, I have no idea what species grow in your neck of the woods, but if it was growing up here I would take odds that it's in the walnut family. Keep me posted if you find out! I'd love to know! I'll do some looking on-line and let you know if I come up with anything.

[kac]

That looks like a patch of Sumac. I can't find a good photo of just the bark online though.

Ken

[Hohenems]

I agree that the cluster photo looks like sumac (again not sure what species is in Tennessee) but I think the leaft scar is too large, and the sumacs that I'm familliar with would have hairy new growth (twigs).

A picture of the terminal bud would help.

[JJireh]

That is Tree of Heaven, an invasive tree in Tn. You can find big patches along most roads.
Ailanthus is it's proper name.
Identifying invasive plants
Scan to bottom and you'll see the leaf scar

[Hohenems]

Great call on the species JJireh! Never even heard of it before now! It's funny how they compare it to sumacs and walnuts...I guess Ken and I weren't too far off with our thinking!

[cedarshavings]

Great Job!!,,,,thanks for the help. That's it for sure. Cool name also, now I just want to see how it carves.