Growth rings and rainfall correlations in a mangrove tree of the genus Diospyros (Ebenaceae)

A tropical mangrove species of Diospyros (provisionally identified as D. ferrea var. geminata) possesses well marked growth rings. Their anatomical features are described, and their frequency is compared with rainfall records. Correlation techniques are used to show that the rings are not annual; the results suggest that, on average, the tree produces seven rings in 4 years. Regression analysis suggests that the tree produced 0.272 mm2 growth increment per millimetre of rain in the preceding year