[neilep (OP)]

I recently asked a question or two about the nature of tree rings !

What I didn't know then was that some trees don't actually make tree rings at all !

I think these Palm trees in my sons sand box might be prime examples.

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Any idea why not ?

[SquarishTriangle]

It might have something to do with seasonal variation and its effect on plant growth perhaps. I'm thinking the rings could be an indication of when the tree is actively growing and when it's not growing. Going by that, the palm trees in that awefully tropical looking sandbox wouldn't have such pronounced growth phases during the year, and consequently not produce obvious rings?

Or maybe they just don't like people finding out their age...or having bits cut out of them to do so.

[neilep (OP)]

THANK YOU for this.

Yes...yes..I can see that a climate with little seasonal variation may be conducive to non tree ring luff !

My sons sandbox ( a three mile stretch of wonderful coastline) has a number of Palm trees........well....less one ,right now as I just took this cross section from one !!


Interesting !!

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Please ignore the red ring !!...it's a genuine infection by a red ring nematode !!

[Karen W.]

I want to come share the sandbox please! LOL LOL..

Hey I did not know that about a palm tree!
When we cut the Madrone for firewood You really can't see rings its from hot country and the wood is much more dense then soft wood an some of our Tan oaks are like that you can't see the rings when cut  but because it is so dense it makes excellent firewood and burns hot and long unlike soft woods!

[JimBob]

It is evolution. Palm trees are much more related to grasses (and thus cereals), onions, etc., and are monocotyledonts. Monocotyledont means having only one embryonic leaf in the seeds. Other trees are dicotyledont, having two leaves in the seed. Being more closely akin to grass, palms have no growth rings. Pine trees (with multi leaved seeds, and naked ones at that (gymnosperms) are a the evolutionary ancestors of the great European, American and tropical forest hardwoods and other trees with growth rings.

Palm trees transport nutrients all the way up to the top of the tree through all of the tree cells, which grow vertically. Hardwoods transport nutrients up the outside in the new cells and lay boen new cells for transport each season. Thus growth rings.

Thus sayeth the Jim

[Karen W.]

that is very interesting. Is this true of all types of palms?

[JimBob]

Yes. If it were not true for all palm trees, they wouldn't be palm trees, would they?

[Karen W.]

There are many varieties of palms and me is ignorant of weather they would all be the same thus is why I will take your word for it! LOL.. Thanks Jimbob!

[Alandriel]

Very clever JimBob !  []

Man - you know I never *ever* noticed that about missing tree rings.
And I've dealth with many a palm tree trunk
Just goes to show what one notices that's right before one's nose  []