heartwood

Tree's dead center

Heartwood is the dense inner wood of a tree trunk, no longer carrying sap.

As a tree grows, the older central wood darkens and hardens while the outer sapwood remains light and active.

Heartwood provides structural strength and is prized in woodworking for its durability and rich color: The table was made from walnut heartwood.

forestry

oak

Quercus genus member

pineCone-bearing evergreen
cedarDurable, fragrant conifer
mahoganyReddish-brown tropical lumber

teak · walnut · cherry · maple · ebony · rosewood · hickory · ash · birch · lumber

anatomy

sapwood

Tree's water-conducting layer

pithCore or crux
xylemPlant water conduit
growth ringsAnnual layers in wood

trunk · bark · cambium · lignin · cellulose · fibers · vascular · annual rings · tree rings · dead cells

durability

rot-resistant

Unlikely to decompose

denseClosely packed together
stableSecure and unchanging
long-lastingPersisting over extended time

weatherproof · moisture-resistant · preservative · tannic · resinous · oily · impermeable · aging · seasoning · curing

woodworking

joinery

Fitting wood pieces together

turningAct of rotating
carvingShaping by cutting away
veneerDecorative outer layer

planks · boards · grain pattern · figure · color · luster · workability · finishing · furniture · cabinetry

Categories

sandalwoodsandalwood oil, sandalwood soap
plant anatomyroot, stem, leaves, stems, leaf
woodoak, pine, maple, cedar, birch
forest productslumber, timber, plywood sheets, hardwood, softwood
lumberlumber, timber, oak, pine, cedar
tree partstrunk, branches, branch, bark, root

Opposites

tree anatomy/wood position

heartwoodsapwood

Tree's water-conducting layer

bark · cambium · phloem

Family

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G