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Summerwood / Latewood - In cross section, latewood or summerwood is the xylem which has become lignified (became wood) in the summer. It proceeds the Early or Springwood. It is the last wood to be formed in the current growth increment. In girth we break down the current growth and lignifications into two periods - Early and late, or as some label it - Spring and Summer. Remember the cambium zone does not produce wood on the inside, but, xylem. The new born material is not correctly termed wood until it is lignified. "See Early or Springwood". Free water moves only in the latewood of the current increment during the end of the growth period in some tyloses- forming species of ring-porous trees such as American elm. Click here for picture.