| Hi Sherry, I'm not personally familiar (isn't it odd that a native tree that grows over a third of the U.S. isn't known by everyone?) but did find this reference: "Small native tree or large shrub often found growing near streams. The bark is gray and smooth on older trunks and looks like the muscles on a buff arm, hence another common name "musclewood". Grows 20-30 feet." So you were correct about the older trunks having the characteristic bark. From Google images, the mature tree does have smooth, muscled slate gray bark. The link will give you more info about this tree than you perhaps want to know... Monica |
Here is a link that might be useful: U.S. Forest Service
