page_title: Herbchronology
hierarchical_section_title: Herbchronology
caption_attribution_description: English: Root cross-section (30 microns) of Cirsium spinosissimum. Lignified tissue is stained reddish using Phloroglucinol/HCL. Black markers denote annual ring borders. Individual collected in the Churfirsten Mountain range, Switzerland (2002)
context_page_description: Herbchronology is the analysis of annual growth rings in the secondary root xylem of perennial herbaceous plants. While leaves and stems of perennial herbs die down at the end of the growing season the root often persists for many years or even the entire life. Perennial herb species belonging to the dicotyledon group are characterized by secondary growth, which shows as a new growth ring added each year to persistent roots. About two thirds of all perennial dicotyledonous herb species with a persistent root that grow in the strongly seasonal zone of the northern hemisphere show at least fairly clear annual growth rings.
  Counting of annual growth rings can be used to determine the age of a perennial herb similarly as it is done in trees using dendrochronology. This way it was found that some perennial herbs live up to 50 years and more.
context_section_description: Herbchronology is the analysis of annual growth rings (or simply annual rings) in the secondary root xylem of perennial herbaceous plants. While leaves and stems of perennial herbs die down at the end of the growing season the root often persists for many years or even the entire life. Perennial herb species belonging to the dicotyledon group (also known as perennial forbs) are characterized by secondary growth, which shows as a new growth ring added each year to persistent roots. About two thirds of all perennial dicotyledonous herb species with a persistent root that grow in the strongly seasonal zone of the northern hemisphere show at least fairly clear annual  growth rings.
  Counting of annual growth rings can be used to determine the age of a perennial herb similarly as it is done in trees using dendrochronology. This way it was found that some perennial herbs live up to 50 years and more.
caption: Root cross section (30 μm) of Cirsium spinosissimum. Lignified tissue is stained reddish using Phloroglucinol/HCL. Black markers denote annual ring borders. Individual collected in the Churfirsten Mountain range, Switzerland (2002)
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