What term refers to the growth stages of wood that occur during different seasons?

The term that refers to the growth stages of wood that occur during different seasons is commonly identified as growth rings. Growth rings are layers of wood formed during a single growing season, which allow us to determine a tree's age and understand its growth patterns. Each year, a tree adds a ring, and the appearance of these rings can vary based on environmental conditions like precipitation and sunlight, leading to variations in thickness and density. This variation reflects the tree's growth response to seasonal changes, making growth rings not only a valuable tool for age determination but also an important indicator of the tree's health and the ecological conditions during its lifetime.

In contrast, wood density refers to the mass of wood per unit volume and is influenced by multiple factors, such as moisture content and the species of the tree, but it does not specifically denote the growth stages over time. Annual rings, while also referring to the distinctive rings formed in a tree's trunk, is more of a synonym to growth rings, but "growth rings" is the more commonly accepted term in forestry terminology. Seasonal layers could also imply different growth segments, yet it lacks the traditional specificity and recognition that growth rings carry within the context of forestry studies.