This is another closeup of post oak with a ray cutting across the tree rings, offsetting the rings between the ray. The earlywood is marked by large vessels used in conducting water. Latewood appears darker, marked by smaller vessels. Occasionally, offsets in oak tree rings can be problematic when trying to crossdate the rings. Dendrochronologists therefore must be careful when working with oak species, as these rays can cause a misdate of one year.
Growth is from the left to the right.
The small vessels throughout the entire tree ring indicates this is a diffuse-porous angiosperm species. Last updated Fenruary, 2000. All rights reserved.