noun
- Plural of alburnum; the sapwood of a tree, the living wood between the bark and the heartwood.
Usage: botanical; technical
Examples
- The alburnums of the oak tree are lighter in color than the dense heartwood.
- Foresters examine the alburnums to assess the tree's health and growth rate.
- The alburnums contain more moisture and are more susceptible to decay than the inner wood.
- In cross-sections of the log, the alburnums appear as a distinct ring between the bark and core.