With more than 100 species of trees growing in Michigan, identifying can sometimes be daunting and is usually a process of elimination. In this case, your suggestion of ash is incorrect. To begin, ash leaves are compound leaves, pinnately compound, meaning individual leaflets on the stem, as opposed to a single leaf on the stem. So we know from that that the tree is not an ash. Next we determine the arrangement of the leaves on the stem, either opposite of each other, or alternating. This pattern also shows up in branching, opposite or alternate. Ash are one of only 4 species which are opposite (maple, ash, dogwood, horse chestnut). While not clear in your pictures, they appear to be alternate.

Then we move to the leaf itself. Heart shaped puts it in one of two categories, poplar/aspen/cottonwood or basswood/linden. The leaf margin is finely to coarsely toothed in this case, leaning to the first category. While unable to see the entire tree in the pictures, a visual of the bark leads me to cottonwood (as one who has a few on my own property). One identifying characteristic for cottonwood that I can't determine in the pictures is the petiole (stem leaf is attached to). It will be flattened as opposed to round. If so you have an Eastern cottonwood.

Cottonwoods are big trees, very big. They have little or no value aesthetically in landscaping. Fast growing, they do like water with high anaerobic tolerance but can adapt to dry soils.  You might see them used in drainage easements or other wet prone areas to help as blotters. Considered a hardwood, they are a brittle tree but used commercially mainly for crates, boxes, pallets, etc.

One more thing....you may associate cottonwoods with the often horrendous spewing of cotton/seeds in early summer.  If your tree does not do that, then it is a male. Cottonwoods are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are borne on separate trees.  In this case, it is the female that causes all the trouble.

Hoping that we are correct and helpful to you, here is more on the eastern cottonwood:
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a894   

Mr. Harville,

Thanks so much for your reply to my question! I have managed to go online and look at numerous pictures of the cottonwood trees, leaves, etc. I have noticed that the individual leaves "appear" to be different on the tree in question vs the cottonwood tree you referred to. I have managed to go back to the tree and take what I believe are much more detailed pictures of the leaves and tree as well as the roots. The thing I noticed that is different is on the cottonwood, the individual leaves are straight across on the bottom. The tree I have sent more pictures of, seems to be more a "rounded' look on each side of the stem of the individual leaf. I hope what I'm trying to say is making sense.

I have attached numerous pictures in hopes you can get a more definite look at them.

Thanks again in advance for your advice and time!

Sincerely,

Chris 

Here are more:

And one last one of the roots:

The latest pictures you've sent are considerably different from the first. Almost as if they came from two different trees. Heart shaped leaves are now lobed, looking more maple like. Still not clear is the leaf arrangement on the stem. But one pic appears to show opposite branching, which would further steer us to maple. Also, many maples are known for considerable root growth in the top 24 inches, but I'm passing your situation off as something quirky, not normal.

I'll search further for the correct answer today, or pass the question to someone else.

Your tree keys out to be a black maple. See if this fits: http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/kids/tree_blk.htm
 

Yes, seems to be what I have. Would it help for you to confirm if I were to cut a piece off the tree that is down? I cut and then send you the pictures if 

I agree with John Harville's comment that you have two different trees shown in your pics from the first email to the second. I also agree that the first appears to be cottonwood poplar (or American Basswood) by the lobes at the petiole. The second set is in the maple family Acer Rubrum. I have reviewed examples from Mich, Ohio and Pa that show similarities to your leaves so I think you have Red Maples in addition to the other trees. Thank you for using the Ask an Expert System.

Thank you! Would it help to narrow them down if I were to cut a piece of the fallen tree off?, & post the results?

I don't think so. The heart shaped leaf is either Cottonwood or Basswood and the second with the lobes and opposite branching is Red Maple. You have two different trees in your pictures. Thanks for your question

Oh my gosh, I "finally" figured out the difference of the two sets of pictures I sent to both of you. My apologies! Are there. "Red Mples" which have green leaves? 

Red maples are known for their ability to show Red colors in their leaves in the fall rather than the standard yellow or oranges of other maples. They will show some red in the spring as the leaves are coming out but then turn to green as the summer progresses. Hence the Red Maple designation. Thanks