Measurements were made of the radial and tangential shrinkage and density of samples from five fir (Abies alba) and three beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees, and detailed studies of their morphological characteristics were carried out. Correlations were found between shrinkage and certain of the parameters examined. Macroscopic features, such as mean density and ring width, have little influence on shrinkage, which appears to be more closely related to certain aspects of cellular structure, e.g. lumen dimensions and cell wall thickness. Radial shrinkage is affected more by anatomical features than is tangential shrinkage. -- AATA