Black Gum?

I was told this was gum. If it is I know its a bear to split but how is it as firewood

 

I will mix it with oak, because it will light up faster than oak. Gets poplar light when dry.

 

Would be very similar in BTU as sweet gum. I bet soft maple is better (red maple) as far as BTU. It will burn yes. But due to splitting issues I personally wouldn't put too much time into it unless your somewhat limited to your wood choices.

And I will say yes that is black gum, that's this foresters opinion.

 

Here's a pic my BIL sent me. Turned out to be black gum and we milled it.

 

The black gum that I’ve seen, which have not been many, do not have that dark Heartwood really at all.

 

Deys ah arful lot 'o oak leaves 'round dat der gum, popular er wat's eber hit's be.

 

Nice butt. How does it look laid out flat?

 

Not bad, not bad at all. Have you worked with it at all? Wondering why it’s not more popular in the woodworking field. Maybe it is and I just don’t know? Wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened.

 

All we send gum for is pallet wood.

 

Did all that for BIL. Didn't keep any.

 

Yea but the gum leaves is on the pile of branches..look at the leaves that are still attached. The black gum leaves here around here are usually red this time of year or pretty colorful, but I'm way south of Ohio so who knows what they do when up there, never been that far north that direction.

 

Based on the leaves in first pic and bark i say it is. Only have took a tiny bit of it once and after hand splitting never again even with hydro.

 

I will also confirm this is black gum! It's one of the few species around here that will survive in standing water.

 

Like think swamp. Like southern swamps with waist deep water for months on end

 

That was from a pruning job i did a couple Summers ago and knew what it was (thanks to FHC)

Ive seen "Swamp Loggers" and black gum is one of the trees they harvest.