Patterns of Annual Xylem Increment Integrated by Contour Presentation

A functional method of bringing together the patterns in the annual increment of wood in the stem and root of a tree is presented and related to the analyses of Duff and Nolan. Alternative terms for the three growth analysis sequences of these authors are suggested. The contour presentation described provides a good visual construct, useful for comparative purposes, of the space–time relationships of the growth layer during the development of a tree.