Question

Have been ctutting firewood for years,can identify most species of trees. One has me puzzled. My Dad and older Brother has always called them Ironwood.
I live in n.e, indiana. The tree is among a lot of red elms that are dying. This tree isalso dying at the size of   about 8 to 12 inches in diameter. It is very straight   and not a lot of limbs. It is the heaviest of all the wood i cut,including Oak ,Hickory or the red Elm.Since i have only been in these woods in the winter i don,t know the discription of the leavesor the blooms. The bark is almost like fish scales only they are kind of loose on their edges. The wood is light to almost white in color.It is exceptional long burning and very hot.
 Would appreciate any information,and i thank you.
                    Francis Bianski

Answer
Sounds like ironwood--Eastern Hophornbeam, Ostrya virginiana . Bark of the trunk of this tree is light brown in color. It is fractured into narrow scales, which are loose at their ends. This gives the trunk a shredded look.

Here is a web link with pictures.
http://www.oplin.org/tree/fact%20pages/hophornbeam_eastern/hophornbeam_eastern.h...