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Maximum Growth Can: Lateral growth in trees frequently begins later than growth in height, but the period of lateral growth is longer. Rates of lateral growth likewise are low at the outset, increasing after a few weeks and then diminishing. In view of the long annual period of lateral growth in trees, deleterious environmental conditions may exercise a pronounced effect on growth. In the wood of trees of temperate regions, narrow and wide growth rings may be observed, marking years characterized by unfavorable and favorable conditions for growth.
The maximum growth can monthly rainfall is 5.88 inches, for July, and the minimum is 2.39 inches for November. Convective activity contributes markedly to the summer maximum growth can. A secondary maximum growth can of 4.15 inches in February is partially due to the tendency for generation of cyclonic storms along the Eastern seaboard at that time. Orographic lifting is responsible for high annual values in the extreme northwestern portion, where amounts above 70 inches are observed in a few localities.
Growth Cycles.—Longitudinal and lateral (diametral) growth do not proceed continuously, but rather are cyclical phenomena with periods of growth activity alternating with periods of relative inactivity. One of the best illustrations of the periodic nature of growth in large woody stems is to be found in the annual ring pattern which characterizes the wood of trees of temperate regions. It has been suggested recently that even in the apparently ever-growing trees of the tropical rain forest, cambial growth is not a continuous process. |
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