A thin, flat disc of wood cut perpendicular to the grain of a tree. Foresters and educators use them to count annual growth rings, measure past growth rates, and identify fire scars or periods of drought. They are often sanded and treated to prevent cracking so the anatomical features remain visible.
Heard on the job
Cut a tree cookie from that stump so we can count the rings and figure out the exact age of the stand.
Also heard as
- cross section
- stem disc