Question: Here are additional photos of the two saplings that you asked for to help you further in identification. The bark …
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Question
Here are additional photos of the two saplings that you asked for to help you further in identification. The bark of the one with the pinnately compound leaves is gray and kind of mottled in color. Hope this helps. Thanks again.
Answer
Dear Imc825, this does look like a Sorbus (mountain-ash) seedling. The terminal winter buds on the branchlets should be dark and resinous (at least somewhat fragrant when bruised). If the branchlets and winter buds are pubescent with white hairs (abundantly so), it is the non-native Sorbus aucuparia (from Europe). If the branchlets are with few or no hairs and the winter buds have some hairs (but not densely covered throughout), it is one of two species native to North America. Best wishes.
