Identifcation Please

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Looks like Betula nigra ,river birch to me. Be careful, birch wood rots FAST.

Just don't know what kind it is- Hornbeam anyone? This is an educated guess at best- trying to hone my skills as much as help joe out. having seen the tree I really don't think it is a river birch. Elm? though I doubt it.

Thank you Kev for the time.

I do see similarities in the Betula nigra but, the bark is different I think. I do think it might have double serrations on the leaves as they grow larger. I too was thinking Hornbeam but, I don't know them very well.I think the bark and leaves looks very close to a hornbeam. I'll get a closer view of the leaves if It's possible with my camera tomorrow. Thanks for all the efforts.

To me the bark looks too broken and rough to be Carpinus caroliniana, or ironwood. Usually the bark is smooth and sinewy. I am assuming you collected the tree in the Philly area. Also new foliage on birch is much more folded in appearance than mature foliage.

Not very helpfukl, but it is neither a birch nor a hornbeam, of that I am certain.

Those leaves are too young for a definitive ID (at least by me) but you might take a look at hophornbeam (Ostreya virginiana). They are similar to hornbeam, but with a much rougher bark.

Could it be a Beech or Fagus species ?

There isn't much info to go on with only the photos but my first strong impression is that it is one of the elms. There are 5 native elms in North America and some introduced ones too. If you collected this tree, check out which species grow in that area and see if you can figure it out. Good luck.

I was looking at the Ostreya virginiana just before I noticed your post it Jim. It looks very very close. The bark, branch structure, buds, and leaves coincide. Have any of you seen many Ostreya virginiana bonsai. I know I haven't I will let it grow and I'll snap some more shots. Again thanks for all the help everyone.

I had a couple a few years ago. They were much like the hornbeam, but you keep the soil much drier. Hornbeam is a more satisfactory bonsai, but these do OK.