Variation of different tree-ring parameters in samples from each terminal shoot of a Norway spruce tree

Variability of wood parameters in a tree is sometimes a rather nebulous concept since variability is evident within single cells, from early to latewood, from pith to bark and from stem base to the top of a tree. So far, stem analyses have been done using a restricted number of parameters, mostly ring-width, and using a restricted number of samples in the longitudinal direction. This study analyses a number of parameters from a single tree. An 81-year-old spruce tree was felled and internodial discs were taken from each annual terminal shoot. All tree rings in each disc were measured and a whole-stem analysis was completed for the following parameters: ring-width, mean ring density, maximum density, percentage of latewood, type of transition from early to latewood, intra-annual density fluctuation, number of resin ducts per tree-ring and position of resin ducts within the tree-rings. All parameters showed calendar-year patterns, visible as lines parallel to the bark. The most clear calendar-year pattern was seen for the type of transition from early to latewood and for intra-annual density fluctuations. The strongest inter-series correlation between calendar rings was seen for ring-width. None of the parameters showed significant inter-series correlations for cambial rings. These results may help us to understand how cores or discs taken at breast height represent the entire tree.