A portion of secondary xylem (PO:0005848) that is a part of a growth ring (PO:0004514) formed during the later part of a growing season, has higher density than early wood (PO:0004515) of the same growth ring, and has as parts late wood tracheary elements (PO:0025462) with generally smaller lumens than the early wood tracheary elements (PO:0025461) of the same growth ring.