n.
Hard, fibrous material formed by the accumulation of secondary xylem produced by the vascular cambium .
It is the principal strengthening tissue found in the stems and roots of tree s and shrub s. Wood forms around a central core (pith) in a series of concentric layers called growth ring s. A cross section of wood shows the distinction between heartwood and sapwood. Heartwood, the central portion, is darker and composed of xylem cells that are no longer active in the life processes of the tree. Sapwood, the lighter area surrounding the heartwood, contains actively conducting xylem cells. Wood is one of the most abundant and versatile natural materials on earth, and unlike coal, ores, and petroleum, is renewable with proper care. The most widely used woods come from two groups of trees: the conifer s, or softwood s (e.g., pine , spruce , fir ), and the broadleaves, or hardwood s (e.g., oak , walnut , maple ). Trees classified as hardwoods are not necessarily harder than softwoods (e.g., balsa , a hardwood, is one of the softest woods). Density and moisture content affect the strength of wood; in addition to load-bearing strength, other variable factors often tested include elasticity and toughness. Wood is insulating to heat and electricity and has desirable acoustical properties. Some identifying physical characteristics of wood include colour, odour, texture, and grain (the direction of the wood fibres). Some 10,000 different wood products are commercially available, ranging from lumber and plywood to paper, from fine furniture to toothpicks. Chemically derived products from wood and wood residues include cellophane, charcoal, dyestuffs, explosives, lacquers, and turpentine. Wood is also used for fuel in many parts of the world.