Wood id please?

I have probably 100 of these growing in a swampy part of my property. The trunks are underwater most of the time. Very orange looking wood grain when freshly cut.

 

Must be a birch species because that’s not cherry wood

 

Looks like black cherry.
I'm not sure how to describe the smell of the bark when scraped. Bitter, fruity ?

 

There are a couple of mature yellow birch growing close by so maybe you're on to something.

 

Black Birch

 

I agree.

Scratch the bark with your thumb. Black birch will smell like mint/wintergreen.

 

Buckthorn?

I'm really not certain.

 

Has a birchy look to me as well.

 

Cherry? Birch? Any pictures of leaves?

 

The leaves looked like a birch pattern. The leaves are gone now where I live.

 

I'll lean towards the birch camp too, maybe black birch. As M2theB mentioned, scratch the bark. Even fairly dry, it will still smell of wintergreen/mint.

 

Bark definitely looks like black birch/possibly cherry... Call me crazy but the end grain seems to have medullary rays though, pointing to oak. I’ve seen certain young oaks with distinct bark here and there... Without seeing it in person it’s a tough call.

 

I kinda thought the same too!

 

It is Alder likely speckled or tag Alder , fixes nitrogen in soil

 

looks like tag alder to me