Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Marks on July 15, 2013, 05:11:22 pm

Title: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: Marks on July 15, 2013, 05:11:22 pm
May be a stupid question and if it is then feel free to let me know. If the rings in a tree form from the alternating seasons then does a tree growing on the equator have them?
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: Stoker on July 15, 2013, 07:05:44 pm
I'll start the fun.. >:D Yes.. Although may not be as pronounsed as what we in the northern areas see.. The purpleheart and ipe I've seen does have rings, palm wood didn't have seperate rings.. All areas do go though wet and dry seasons quicking and slowing of growth.. Allitude would also play a factor..
Thanks Leroy
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: Thesquirrelslinger on July 15, 2013, 08:04:05 pm
I thought Palm was like 'boo and grasses???- it comes out of the ground and is the same diam a hundred years later???
It just hardens over time I thought???
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: Joec123able on July 16, 2013, 02:47:12 am
I thought Palm was like 'boo and grasses???- it comes out of the ground and is the same diam a hundred years later???
It just hardens over time I thought???



Really ? If that's true then it is very interesting
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: Thesquirrelslinger on July 16, 2013, 08:21:14 pm
I thought Palm was like 'boo and grasses???- it comes out of the ground and is the same diam a hundred years later???
It just hardens over time I thought???



Really ? If that's true then it is very interesting
Hey I dunno. Its just what I was told by someone. I have never actually cut down a palm tree... I don't think palm lives 100 yrs, does it?
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: bubby on July 16, 2013, 08:45:15 pm
palm if you cut it shows dots instead of rings, more dense to the outside of the palm, I've got some petrified palm slabs i'm gonna try and knap cool looking stuff
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: Thesquirrelslinger on July 16, 2013, 10:47:51 pm
palm if you cut it shows dots instead of rings, more dense to the outside of the palm, I've got some petrified palm slabs i'm gonna try and knap cool looking stuff
Cool. So has anyone determined if it grows in diameter over time? I thought it just got stronger and taller?
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: Bone pile on July 17, 2013, 08:14:24 am
palm has the corn/grass type of fiber they can have a bigger trunk on the top. have several in the yard.The outside of the royal and black palms have a hard outside layer.The cabbage palm has a tasty heart
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: Thesquirrelslinger on July 17, 2013, 11:39:09 am
Here we go...
Quote
palm trees increase their trunk diameter due to division and enlargement of parenchyma cells, which is termed diffuse secondary growth

Can someone explain this better?
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: 4dog on July 17, 2013, 12:14:11 pm
Palm tree sap is more like a jelly, the "wood" are more like fibers they dont really grow "rings so  much as expand, its harder to explain than i thought it would be, think,, expansion more like a balloon , from the inside out.
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: Marks on July 17, 2013, 02:23:34 pm
Palm tree sap is more like a jelly, the "wood" are more like fibers they dont really grow "rings so  much as expand, its harder to explain than i thought it would be, think,, expansion more like a balloon , from the inside out.
Kind of like me. I don't have growth rings yet I keep getting bigger???
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: Thesquirrelslinger on July 17, 2013, 02:24:48 pm
hahaha yea! Some things get bigger by depositing a layer of lipids under a layer of skin ;)
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: Marks on July 17, 2013, 02:25:26 pm
I'll start the fun.. >:D Yes.. Although may not be as pronounsed as what we in the northern areas see.. The purpleheart and ipe I've seen does have rings, palm wood didn't have seperate rings.. All areas do go though wet and dry seasons quicking and slowing of growth.. Allitude would also play a factor..
Thanks Leroy

All in all I kind of figured they did but I guess your explanation of why is more what I was looking for. thanks.
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: 4dog on July 17, 2013, 04:48:44 pm
Well ya know hardwoods aint palms,,so i was just saying what i knew..lol..so if its a hardwood ,, yeah it has rings, but goes more with wet and dry seasons rather than hot and cold seasons.
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: bubby on July 17, 2013, 07:42:13 pm
for the record I don't think palms start out 2' dia. so yeah, they do get bigger
Title: Re: Do tropical trees have growth rings?
Post by: stickbender on July 18, 2013, 03:42:30 pm

     Yes Palms do grow out and up. ;)  They are fibrous.  If you slice one into a round slice, and look at it, it looks like they said, dots.  You can let it dry, and put FG resin on it, and it makes a nice piece of interesting wood.  I have seen some that were done that way in the V.I.'s.  You can slice it length wise, and FG it, and make a table, bench, plaque, etc.  Cabbage palm (Sable Palm) the State tree of Florida, is quite tasty.  Like Roger said, the heart is what you eat.  We used to cook it like cabbage, with onions, and bacon. I like it raw also.  AKA Swamp Cabbage. You have to be careful where you harvest it down here, as it is protected.  So I have been told. ;)


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