Now this to me screams hickory/pecan. The other picture from yesterday looks like a 3rd species, and I think buZZsaw BRAD has it right with Catalpa.
I do know it dulled the saw chain fairly fast, you could tell it had that hard feeling to it. There must have been several different species all pushed to the side when he had the trees cut down. I was so hot I just wanted to get it cut and loaded, it was mid to upper 80's by the time we got the trailer full.
This is from Missouri Conservation site on the Northern Catalpa tree. Scientific Name Catalpa speciosa Family Bignoniaceae (trumpet creepers) Description Northern catalpa is a medium-sized tree with a short trunk and several large, ascending branches and a narrow, rounded crown. Leaves are simple, opposite or in threes, egg-shaped with an abruptly pointed tip, 6–12 inches long, margin mostly smooth; upper surface dark green, smooth; lower surface paler, hairy; mildly scented when crushed; turn yellow in fall. Bark is thick, with irregular, short ridges and deep grooves, not scaly. Twigs are stout, brittle, green to purplish, hairy; becoming light orange or brown and smooth with age. Flowers May–June; in upright, pyramidal clusters 4–8 inches long; flowers bell-shaped, 2 inches long, white, showy, attractive, and fragrant; throat with yellow spots and dark lines; lower lobe with a notch in the center. Fruits October, single or 2 or 3 together, a beanlike pod 8–20 inches long, ¼–½ inch wide, light brown, splitting into 2 halves; seeds numerous, flattened, about 1 inch long. Pods persist on branches all winter, opening in spring before falling. Similar species: Southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonoiodes) is not native to our state but has been planted widely. Northern catalpa, however, has bigger flowers (1½–2 inches long); each flower’s lower lip is shallowly notched; the fruits are fairly thick-walled (the sides remain concave after the pod splits open); and the bark is reddish brown and divided into thick (not thin) scaly plates on older trunks. So I guess it's very possible that someone planted it on his property at one time or another. I know my mother was good at digging up trees and bringing them home and planting them. I'm just about 20 miles Southwest of Saint Louis, Mo. somewhat above the area conservation mentioned. I just haven't heard of the Catalpa tree much other than what you guys are educating me on.
I don’t think I got a notification on this. Just saw it on a drive by. There is a lot going on in the op’s pictures. I’ve never cut a Catalpa and there are no live ones I see regularly, so can’t say. Pecan is rare cut for me, but the wood character/color is close to Hickory. Can’t remember a distinguishing smell either. I agree with Eric on the pic with stringy dark heartwood being Hickory or Pecan. My real deal marker for Hickory is the small dark circles that encircle the dark center.
Now looking at the split and the fact it dulled his chain i say hickory. Catalpa splits clean with no splintering like that IME The bark in the prior pics looks like catalpa though.
Hickory bark is one of the hardest IME. So much so ive seen sparks when cutting it in low light conditions. Hickory...final answer.
I guess I'll a bit. I believe the wood with dark center, rough bark, is probably mockernut hickory, like this...it will have a strong odor sometimes...and is harder than pecan. There's some brown leaves in the pic that resemble hickory This is a big pecan that was noodles. Pecan can have an odor like a horse stable... I don't see any big catalpa leaves on the ground. This is some catalpa we cut...
