Horizontal ridges on American Beech

[moss]

Anybody happen to know what this structure is on an American Beech? I've only seen it a few times. The trees with these rings always appear to be healthy, curious to know what causes it.

Horizontal ridges on beech

Thanks,
-moss

 

[NYCHA FORESTER]

I heard that it is/was an indication of stress.... I don't know how true it is but the Plane trees here that are in tough growing site do tend to exhibit those same characterisics. Not always but sometimes. If I had some I2KI I would do a little research on it.

 

[moss]

Thanks NYCHA. I found another beech with the rings and the interesting thing is that the sapling beech growing around it also had the rings. It made me think that it was a genetic trait but the parent and child trees may be chronically stressed in that location.
-moss