833 



KEY FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF WOODS WITH- 

 OUT THE AID OF A HAND LENS OR MICROSCOPE l 



HARDWOODS 



I. Pores visible as minute rounded openings on smoothly cut end grain and as fine 

 grooves on planed side-grain surfaces. 



A. Ring-porous; that is, the pores at the beginning for each annual ring (springwood) 

 are comparatively large, forming a distinct porous ring, and decrease in size more 

 or less abruptly in the outer part of each annual ring (summer wood) where they 

 are not visible without magnification. 

 1. Summerwood figured with light and dark irregular V-shaped radial patches. 



(a) Many rays broad and conspicuous. Wood heavy to very heavy. 



The OAKS 



(a) Many usually without reddish tinge. The large pores of the heartwood 

 mostly closed (exception, chestnut oak). 



The WHITE OAK GROUP: 



WHITE OAK 

 SWAMP WHITE OAK 

 BUR OAK 

 POST OAK 

 CHINQUAPIN OAK 

 SWAMP CHESTNUT OAK 

 OVERCUP OAK 

 CHESTNUT OAK 

 OREGON WHITE OAK 

 CALIFORNIA WHITE OAK 



(bi) Wood with reddish tinge, especially near knots. The large pores of the 

 heartwood mostly open (exception, blackjack oak). 



The RED OAK GROUP: 



NORTHERN RED OAK 

 EASTERN RED OAK 

 SOUTHERN RED OAK 

 SWAMP RED OAK 

 BLACK OAK 

 SCARLET OAK 

 PIN OAK 

 WATER OAK 

 WILLOW OAK 

 LAUREL OAK 

 BLACKJACK OAK 

 CALIFORNIA BLACK OAK 



(b) Rays not noticeable. Color grayish brown. Wood moderately light. 



AMERICAN CHESTNUT 



2. Summerwood figured with short or long wavy tangential lines or brands, in some 

 woods (elms, hackberry, sugarberry, and mulberry) throughout the Summerwood, 

 in others more pronounced toward the outer part of the Summerwood. 

 (a) Heartwood bright cherry red. Pores in springwood mostly open and very 



distinct. 



(ai) Rays plainly visible. Tangential bands in Summerwood usually distinct, 

 except in narrow rings. Pith small, commonly size of lead in ordinary pencil. 

 Sapwood usually more than three-fourths inch wide. Wood very heavy. 



HONEYLOCUST 



(bi) Rays not plainly visible. Tangential bands in summerwood obscure. Pith 

 large, 0.2 to 0.3 inch in diameter. Sapwood usually less than three-fourths 

 inch wide. Wood heavy. 



KENTUCKY COFFEETREE 



1 Unless otherwise directed, all observations as to structure should be made on the 

 end surface of rings of average width, cut smoothly with a very sharp knife; and all 

 observations as to color should be made on a freshly cut longitudinal surface of the 

 heartwood. A reading glass will help to see some of the structural features more dis- 

 tinctly but should not be used in judging visibility with the unaided eye. Odor can best 

 be determined on freshly cut surfaces of the heartwood. 



The Key was prepared by Arthur Koehler, chief of the Division of Silvicultural Rela- 

 tions, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wis. 

 802062 49 54 



