Increment puncher - A tool for extracting small cores of wood and bark from living trees

A newly designed and easy-to-use increment puncher (in French: minisonde de prelevement; in German: Zuwachsstecher; in Italian: puntura incrementale) allows the extraction of wood and bark cores from living tree stems for the study of radial increment, cell wall formation, lignification and wound re actions. This article describes the technical features and gives instructio ns for use. The biological reactions in the injured zone surrounding the pu nched holes are presented in a case study on eastern white cedar (Thuja occ identalis L.).