Tracheid Length Variation in Single Rings of Loblolly, Slash, and Shortleaf Pine

There is a definite pattern of variation for fiber length in single rings of loblolly, slash and shortleaf pine. The fiber length of all species increased through the earlywood to maxima that occurred at distances of from 47 to 72 percent of the ring width, and then it decreased to the end of the latewood. There was no significant difference in the length of earlywood and latewood fibers of each species. Fiber length maxima coincided with the transition from earlywood to latewood in 50 to 67 percent of the rings.