I am still new to this woordworking game, so please excuse the ignorant question. I use a lot of small offcuts in my projects, and have I received a pile of stuff from another woodworker - only problem is I cannot tell the cherry from the alder. (Oak, maple and walnut are easy by comparison)

Does anyone know of any obvious ways to tell the difference between a piece of cherry versus a piece of alder? I know one is softer than the other, but I am loathe to dent the wood just to tell - I will have a lot of dented wood afterwards!

Thanks!