Box Elder

[ezekiel]

I found some pink (like tranny fluid) discoloration inside a Box Elder yesterday, it looks fungal but I wondered if anyone had seen this? I'll post a pic in the near future. Thanks!

 

[rfwoodvt]

Hello Ezekiel,

If you are referring to a pink staining type coloration in the heart wood and maybe some into the sapwood then yes, I see this all the time.

I have no idea what causes it but I have come to accept it as regular and common. I most frequently see it in stems 8" diameter or less.

I have sometimes also been left wondering whether the stain was there before I cut the stem, or whether it formed after.

Though I have only anecdotal evidence, I haven't found a particular correlation to weakness, decay or defect and this staining.

Even so, if someone has an explanation, I'd like to hear it.

 

[tophopper]

Tom has some good pics of boxelder he had sawn into boards with some cool blood red staining.
Its common in Boxedler. (around here anyway)

 

[Mangoes]

Pretty common around here as well. Apparently woodturners die for the stuff.

 

[Demo]

Well not to get into a religous discussion, But The wiccan religion beleives that the elder trees are a symbol of one of there main gods(there are 2 to be exact many differnt names but to keep it simple Lord And lady) Lady goddess, The resoning behind it is the red, It looks almost like blood, sop to actually cut the tree if I was wiccan would be considered and act against the goddess and would have bad luck. So ya fairly common. And a little history at that what a great forum.

 

[ezekiel]

Sorry for the delay in response, I just saw the "new" posts. Anyway, here is what I found, possibly caused by Fusarium reticulatum. Staining was found in trees only wounded, not innoculated with F. reticulatum (not innoculated in these experiments). Reasearch I read postulates (I saw no back up for this) that the staining "represents no significant loss to structural integrity to sap wood". I have also talked to woodworkers who call it "blood wood" (I think, I'll have to ask,) but they do seem to love it. Thanks for the feedback, I hope this helps some!!

 

[treebing]

yeah, I guess if you can find a good chunk of millable box elder with the stain, you can sell it for good money. People make fancy boxes and fine woodworking stuff. Every box elder I have ever cut has had some red in it. Its cool to me that such a "weed tree" as some people classify it could actually be pretty valuable.

 

[The_REVerend]

I just learned something on Friday from a wood supplier. It seems that Acer negundo with the staining you speak of is more prone to ring shake when it is used on a lathe. Not that I use a lathe but next time I am removing a Mani and come across the red I will think twice about how big I go and the possible ring shake potental below me!
Just a thought
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