Way to go Nancy. Us woodworkers occasionally need some education. Not that I wish to besmirch Dave in any way, I have killed more than my share of trees with both firearms and arrows. (I need to go cut that elm down so I can retrieve last years errant shot) Because I also sometimes hunt with witnesses I have had to cut out a section of wood and take my "trophy" home
.
What I really want to know is if the "Popular" or "Poplar" was actually a "Tulip Poplar" or an aspen. I am always having to correct folks who ask if I have any "popular" lumber, when in reality sometimes they want Aspen. (In Michigan there are few Tulip Poplar trees and more and more Aspen the further you go North.
O.k, so whats the real story? The
genera "populus" contains 4 basic species in North America that are quaking aspen, balsam poplar, and Eastern and black cottonwood. They are in the
"willow" family. (go figure) World wide there are something like 350 species in this family.
"Tulip Poplar" also known as "Yellow Poplar" is actually in the "Magnolia" family.
Are you confused yet? It sure causes my head to spin a little.
All I really care about is that tulip poplar makes good stable generic lumber at a good price, and oyster mushrooms grow on quaking aspen or to the locals "popular" trees and they are great eating.