Exogen

/ˈɛksədʒən/ noun

Definition

A plant that grows by adding layers of wood to the outside of its stem, such as trees with annual growth rings.

Etymology

From Greek 'exo-' meaning 'outside' and 'gen' meaning 'to produce' or 'born.' The term describes plants that literally produce their growth material on the outside, contrasting with endogens.

Kelly Says

Most of the trees you see—oaks, maples, pines—are exogens, and that's why you can count their age by their rings; each ring is a year of outside growth that tells a tree's whole life story!

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