What is the lighter colored, less dense wood that grows in the spring and summer called?

The lighter colored, less dense wood that grows in the spring and summer is known as earlywood. This type of wood forms during the early part of the growing season, when water is plentiful and conditions are favorable for rapid growth. Earlywood cells have larger diameters and thinner cell walls compared to the later wood (or latewood) that forms in the summer and fall, which is denser and darker due to the smaller cell size and thicker walls. The presence of earlywood plays a crucial role in the overall structure of a tree and contributes to its ability to efficiently transport water and nutrients during its most active growth periods. This characteristic is fundamental to understanding tree growth patterns and wood anatomy in forestry studies.