What is this circle?

[kamposs]

I'm guessing it is the start of rot, but would like a second opinion.

 

[jmaher]

...it's heartwood.

 

[kamposs]

I am just starting to mill wood, and I had another log that had that circle, and when I milled it there was streaks in the wood. Is this only good for firewood? Or is this normal?

 

[oldoakman]

Looks like a ring shake. A separation along an annual ring usually caused by high winds.

 

[JD3000]

Bottom of pic 2 looks like discoloration and or decay from wounding sometime.

 

[jmaher]

I personally don't see any sign of decay. I'm down with the "ring shake" thing from @oldoakman. I can see that separation, too.

 

[JD3000]

Not on the bottom third of pic #2? Is it just crudded up?
I too see the ring seperation

 

[JD3000]

I swear I can see a zone line but perhaps not.

 

[JD3000]

Mind you I'm not saying oaks don't form heartwood, they certainly do.

 

[jmaher]

Yes, I will say I can see evidence of some potential prior damage in the lower half of the photo.

 

[KTSmith]

I have a couple of stupid question: What is the tree species? From JD's post, I should think "oak" but it looks otherwise to me. Ash? How long since the tree was felled?
Whether or not the tree forms heartwood, the second image clearly shows reaction zones and wound-initiated discoloration. In the first image, there are clearly two logs or bolts. If they are from a single tree, I see an old open wound in the bolt in the upper part of the photo. The wound response in the second image is quite consistent with that injury.
I have a few publications relating to these processes linked to my webpage, accessible through my TBuzz profile.

 

[mrtree]

Yes Kevin I tend to agree. The lower photo shows a clear pattern from the wound on the lower side. Carving off a couple of cookies and splitting will give you a specimen Shigo would have loved.

 

[jmaher]

My money is on ash.

 

[moss]

Hmm.... is that Quercus bicolor? I like that this is turning into a tree ID quiz ;-)

 

[JD3000]

Not sure where I got oak from...probably from oldoakman's post. Unintentional

 

[LimbLoppa]

My money is on ash.

Mine too........if she can make it clap....

 

[Treezybreez]

If you look at the first picture, you can see that it is not Ash bark. Ash bark is much whiter with diamond shaped patterns.

 

[JD3000]

Yeah, not diamondy enough.

 

[JD3000]

So what else close to that bark but not ash?
Tulip tree, black walnut, Black gum, pignut hickory(?)...

 

[Treezybreez]

Tupelo/Black Gum is what I was guessing, but I could be wrong since the wood is a bit orange for that.