Tetraclinis articulata is a xerothermic Mediterranean conifer native from NW Africa that grows under semiarid conditions in the Atlas Mountains. This species is particularly well adapted to water scarcity and forms xeric woodlands subjected to recurring drought, aridification and overexploitation. Wood of T. articulata has been considered of limited dendrochronological value due to abundant anatomical anomalies in their growth rings. We studied tree-ring growth and tree-ring features to check its dendrochronological potential and evaluate their climatic signals and drought legacy effects at two semiarid sites with contrasting elevation in Morocco. Tree-ring boundaries were properly identified on wood cores from 60 to 68% of the sampled trees. Intra-annual wood density fluctuations (IADF), microrings, missing rings and rings with undefined limits were most abundant at the low-elevation coastal site than at the mountain site. Microring and missing ring abundance was inversely related to tree-ring growth, independent of cambial age, and mostly dependent on drought occurrence. IADF frequency was independent of tree-ring growth but inversely related to cambial age. A complex response of IADF formation to cool March to June conditions was found at the low-elevation coastal site, while IADF formation in the mountain site was related to May water availability. Undefined ring limits were observed only at the low-elevation site, showing positive relationships with elevated maximum temperatures in previous winter. Previous winter rainfall favored radial growth, but a significant legacy effect of water availability was evident up to three years prior to growth. Tree-ring growth was mostly related to water availability 33 and 26 months prior to growth at low-elevation and mountain sites, respectively. The obtained results reveal a very plastic cambial activity and a strong ability of T. articulata to withstand drought even for long periods.

Tetraclinis articulata是一种来自非洲西北部的耐高温地中海针叶树，在半干旱条件下生长于阿特拉斯山脉。该物种特别适合于缺水，并形成遭受反复干旱，干旱和过度开发的干燥林地。T. articulata的木材由于其生长环中存在大量解剖异常，因此已被认为具有有限的树状年代学价值。我们研究了树木年轮的生长和树木年轮的特征，以检查其树轮年代学潜力，并评估了摩洛哥两个海拔高度不同的半干旱地区的气候信号和干旱遗留效应。在60％至68％的抽样树木的木芯上正确地确定了树木年轮的边界。低海拔沿海地区的年内木材密度波动（IADF），微环，缺失的环和具有不确定界限的环比山区的地域最为丰富。微环和缺失环的丰度与树木的年轮成反比，与冈比亚年龄无关，并且主要取决于干旱的发生。IADF的频率与树木的生长无关，但与冈比亚年龄成反比。在低海拔沿海地区发现了IADF形成对3月至6月凉爽条件的复杂响应，而山区地区的IADF形成与5月的可用水量有关。仅在低海拔位置观察到不确定的环限，显示出与先前冬季最高温度升高的正相关关系。先前的冬季降雨有利于径向生长，但是在生长前三年，水的可利用性会产生重大的遗留效应。在低海拔和山区，树木年轮的生长主要与生长前33个月和26个月的可用水量有关。获得的结果显示出非常可塑性的冈比亚活动和强大的能力 IADF在山区的形成与5月的可用水量有关。仅在低海拔位置观察到不确定的环限，显示出与先前冬季最高温度升高的正相关关系。先前的冬季降雨有利于径向生长，但是在生长前三年，水的可利用性会产生重大的遗留效应。在低海拔和山区，树木年轮的生长主要与生长前33个月和26个月的可用水量有关。获得的结果显示出非常可塑性的冈比亚活动和强大的能力 IADF在山区的形成与5月的可用水量有关。仅在低海拔位置观察到不确定的环限，显示出与先前冬季最高温度升高的正相关关系。先前的冬季降雨有利于径向生长，但是在生长前三年，水的可利用性的显着遗留效应是显而易见的。在低海拔和山区，树木年轮的生长主要与生长前33个月和26个月的可用水量有关。获得的结果显示出非常可塑性的冈比亚活动和强大的能力 先前的冬季降雨有利于径向生长，但是在生长前三年，水的可利用性会产生重大的遗留效应。在低海拔和山区，树木年轮的生长主要与生长前33个月和26个月的可用水量有关。获得的结果显示出非常可塑性的冈比亚活动和强大的能力 先前的冬季降雨有利于径向生长，但是在生长前三年，水的可利用性会产生重大的遗留效应。在低海拔和山区，树木年轮的生长主要与生长前33个月和26个月的可用水量有关。获得的结果显示出非常可塑性的冈比亚活动和很强的T. articulata甚至可以长期抵抗干旱。