Lignin staining ...a limited success in identifying koa growth rings

Herbert L. Wick

Treesearch

Lignin staining ...a limited success in identifying koa growth rings

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Herbert L. Wick

Year:

1970

Type:

Research Note

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

Source:

Res. Note PSW-RN-205. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 4 p

Download (PDF 551 KB)

Download (PDF 551 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/31210.pdf

Abstract

Among the lignin stains tested in trying to identify growth rings in koa (Acacia koa Gray), phloroglucinol was the most effective. The light colored sapwood of mature trees stained readily, with growth rings apparent. But staining failed to emphasize rings in the dark colored heartwood. Growth rings were not apparent on samples from young fast growing, sapling size trees. In none of the samples could growth rings be used to estimate tree age or periodic growth.

Keywords

Acacia koa, age determination, ring count, lignin stainin, phlornglucinol

Citation

Wick, Herbert L. 1970. Lignin staining ...a limited success in identifying koa growth rings. Res. Note PSW-RN-205. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 4 p