Meena looks at a polished slice of a trunk…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Meena looks at a polished slice of a trunk. She sees circles, each with a pale inner part and a darker outer edge.
- What is the pale part of each circle called, and when was it made?
- What is the dark edge called, and when was it made?
- What does one pale part with one dark edge make?
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Spring wood has wide vessels and is light in colour. Autumn wood has narrow vessels and is dark. One spring layer with one autumn layer is an annual ring, and the number of rings gives the age of a tree. Heartwood is the oldest, central wood. It is dead, dark with tannins, resins and oils, and does not conduct. Sapwood is the outer, lighter wood that conducts water and minerals.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. (a) Spring wood. It was made in spring, when the cambium was very active. It has wide vessels.
Step 2. (b) Autumn wood. It was made late in the season, when the cambium was slower. It has narrow vessels.
Step 3. (c) One annual ring.
Answer: (a) spring wood; (b) autumn wood; (c) one annual ring.
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