what sort of wood is this then

Worked on a woody plant today in a garden that I am not going to name just yet. Can you guess the plant from these pictures is the thing.

You dont usually see a stem this big, well it was a new one on me so what is it????? Growth rings very thin really, does that help.

Better show you the bark!

 Can you guess what it is yet, or has that line been discredited!!!!!!