Allocasuarina Decaisneana - Desert Oak
This is possibly a silly question, but...
Does anyone know whether there is any difference in timber structure between the juvenile and adult forms?
ie. Once the tap root strikes water and the tree starts to branch out, are subsequent rings visibly different? When dating a tree by counting rings, can one point at a section and definitively say "this is when it matured?"
Growth Rings in Australian Native Trees
Just read this. Here is some general information on Australian native trees & woods.
Many Australian native trees (unlike the hardwoods ie the flowering trees, not the pollen-bearing softwoods) often do not produce growth rings annually. This is because their growth is not determined by seasons, eg winter leaf loss when growth stops or with spring leaf growth and start-up, like say the oaks, elms etc of Nthn hemisphere trees.
Our flowering plants ie our hardwoods like the eucalypts, acacias etc grow when it rains! Same with the ancient casuarinas which though not flowering (insect pollinated) these plants also do no loose their foliage in cold seasons. They are like the true pines in some ways but very different in other ways eg the medullary rays in their woods makes them appear more like the oaks (Quercus sp.)
An Australian tree can put on new growth (show growth spurts & rings) eg as a result of good rain or a good growing season. Thats the norm.
So think of Australia's generally moderate climate and rainfall patterns whne thinking of tree growth and wood rings. There are exceptions eg the native cedars.
Red & white cedar, some of few native species which are deciduous, do have bold annual growth rings and this is also why their woods look good when backsawn.
Droughts produce little or slow growth and most dryland / desert plants grow (ie make wood) SLOWLY. This often results is hard dense and often dark timbers.
Hope this is helpful. I have just updated this ramble with more information.,
Euge