The aims of the study were: (1) to establish allometric relationships
among stem and crown dimensions, biomass, and needle area; (2) to desc
ribe the above-ground dry matter distribution; (3) to determine the re
lationship between sapwood area and needle area; and (4) to describe t
he vertical distribution of tree needle area and branch biomass. Twent
y-three trees out of four stands were sampled. Strong stand-independen
t correlations were found between stem and crown dimensions. Stem diam
eter at breast height (dbh) was non-linearly related to tree height, a
nd linearly related to crown radius. Tree biomass generally increased
with increasing dbh. The relationship between stem biomass and dbh was
stand-independent, but the relationship between crown biomass and dbh
clearly differed between the stands. Best results were obtained after
two-sided logarithmic transformations. The ratio between needle bioma
ss and branch biomass significantly decreased with increasing tree siz
e. Dry matter distribution differed between trees from different crown
classes. suppressed trees had relatively less crown biomass. Specific
needle area decreased with needle ageing and increased from tree top
to crown base. SLA strongly varied within trees, but not between trees
: needle biomass was strongly linearly related to needle area. Needle
area was linearly correlated with sapwood cross-sectional area at brea
st height: ratio differences could be ascribed to differences in crown
base height. Vertical locations of the maximum needle area density (m
(2) m(-)3) and branch biomass density (kg m(-3)) differed, reflecting
the increase of the needle biomass/branch biomass ratio when moving up
ward in the crown. Location of the maximum density depended on canopy
closure, but was generally below the middle of the crown.