Story: Radiata pine

Cross-section of a pine trunk

Cross-section of a pine trunk

This cross-section of radiata pine trunk, as viewed through a microscope, shows the early wood and late wood in each ring. Early wood is formed in spring and consists of thin-walled cells with a large diameter. Late wood develops in late summer and is made up of thick-walled cells of small diameter. It is the densely packed late wood that makes up the dark rings visible in cross sections of pine stems.

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Source: Scion

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How to cite this page:

Peter Berg, 'Radiata pine - The wood', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/diagram/16850/cross-section-of-a-pine-trunk (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Peter Berg, published 24 Nov 2008