tree identification

[doctor phreak]

hey everyone,
i have a tree in my front yard that is going to need to come down...before i send it off somewhere i would like to see if i can use it to smoke with.....
now all i can tell you is this and i think everyone has seen these trees
the tree at the begining of spring produses a seed ( that i hate because itsprouts little trees ) that when they come or fall off the are like little helicopters in fact this is what i have called this tree since i was little " helicopters trees " and i think it belongs th the elm variety maybe
and any help trying to id this tree would be helpful....sorry for the long post but its out of habit from work...anyhoo thanks

 

[leupy]

From the little info. given I think it is a water maple.

 

[supervman]

Call a local place that is HIGH END and sells trees, shrubs, flowers etc.
Sometimes they have a horticulturist on staff and can answer your question for free. OR take in a cutting with some leaves on it.
Should get you squared away. Also call an extension service at the nearest University.

 

[lcruzen]

Maples usually have the hellimacopters.

 

[yard dog]

From your description it sounds like a member of the maple family. Without seeing it I can't tell you exactly which one. How big is the tree and what does the bark look like? Maple is fine for smoking, has a light taste, kinda sweet. As long as the tree is healthy and is in fact maple, I'd use it.

 

[hell fire grill]

Try this.

http://www.oplin.org/tree/index.html

 

[packplantpath]

Sounds like maple to me too. Google image search "maple seed" see if you agree.

 

[master_dman]

The helicopter things are definately maple.

In the fall.. do the leaves turn silver? = silver maple
In the spring.. are the leaves red? = red maple

If neither of these.. I think there is a white maple, and a sugar maple..

Never the less.. all maples are good for smoking.

 

[buffdadjj]

Sounds like a maple to me.

 

[doctor phreak]

The helicopter things are definately maple.

In the fall.. do the leaves turn silver? = silver maple
In the spring.. are the leaves red? = red maple

If neither of these.. I think there is a white maple, and a sugar maple..

Never the less.. all maples are good for smoking.

thanks everyone for the help
dman this must be a white maple or sugar maple because i know in the fall it does not turn silver or red in spring.....
oh well as long as its ok to smoke with i think i take that sucker down and cut it up and start seasoning it......

 

[rivet]

That "helicopter" seed pod would definitely mean a maple.

And while on the subject of helicopters...

Q: What do Marines call a helicopter?

A: (Jumping up and down and pointing up in the air) OOH! OOH! OOOH!

Army Airborne All The Way!

 

[allen]

It is Maple, they dropped in my yard 4 weeks ago and it didn't take them time to sprout. They will plug up you gutters and down spouts

 

[travcoman45]

There is also a box elder tree that has the helicopter seeds, the leaves are elongated (long egg shaped) with choppy edges with an average a 5 leaflets on each twig. Pretty much worthless cept fer shade an campin wood. It grows over much of the US.

Maple will have leaves with fingers or pointed lobes with valleys seperatin them. They sorta look like webbed feet.

Snap a shot a the leaf an post ifin ya can. Wanna make sure yer not just cuttin firewood but gettin yerself some smokin wood.