I wish I knew what species of plant this is.
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It was the stalk of a weed I cut down behind the old wood barn 2 years ago.
It was a green stalk, a broadleaf plant like burdock but it grew about 5-6 feet high. I cut it all out and it all went on the burn pile except for this 3 foot piece I kept out of curiosity. I don't remember what piqued my curiosity though.
It was green and flexible when I cut it. I cut it with hand pruners the size of a pair of wire cutters and it was super easy to cut.
Now it's super strong and super light.
I mean I don't think I can snap it in half with my bare hands if I tried. It's as rigid as whatever wood they use for broom handles.
And it's so light I could probably balance it on the end of a cigarette, holding it by the filter. I mean it weighs almost nothing. But it's so damn strong I can barely flex it holding it by the ends.
Too bad I cut everything down again this year and poisoned the ground. I'm going to have to go out in the fields on the 4 wheeler and see if I can find some more.
But I just noticed this:
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The core is soft like styrofoam. It's basically like a wooden tube with foam inside.
I just cut a piece off and dug out the foamy stuff with a drill bit.
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Whatever it is, it grows wild in Illinois.