Belowground annual ring growth coordinates with aboveground phenology and timing of carbon storage in two tallgrass prairie forb species

Abstract

By demonstrating that ring ontogeny is tied to early summer starch replenishment, our results illustrate the mechanisms behind previous findings where ring width was highly correlated with summer climatic conditions for these two species. This study provides a new physiological link between how ring chronologies in herbs often accord with growing-season environment; further dissecting this phenomenon is vital in unlocking the potential of herb chronology.