Microscopic characteristics of dicotyledonous wood

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Rays in radial section

   
  The form of the ray cells is best represented in radial section.

Section

r
radial
t tangential
q transversal

Diagnostic
Value

h
high
me medium
mo modest

 
 
  Homogeneous rays:
All the ray cells are procumbent (rectangularly formed and the longest axis radially oriented). Marginal cells may be slightly modified but still procumbent in form.
r h
 

Heterogeneous rays, type I:
Procumbent cells in the interior of the rays, a one cell wide band of more or less square cells bordering the ray. This type of ray is frequent and represents the transition between homogeneous rays and truly heterogeneous rays.

r me
  Heterogeneous rays, type II:
Procumbent cells in the interior of the rays, one row of upright cells.
r h
  Heterogeneous rays, type III:
Procumbent cells in the interior of the ray, several rows of upright cells on the ray border.
r h
  Small, numerous pits in ray-vessel intersections. r h
  Particularly large ray-vessel pits. r h
Ray-vessel pits average size. r h
  Development of a secondary ray:
It is necessary to examine several rays, as in certain species the form of secondary rays differs in the initial stage and the final stage (in the initial stage the cells are frequently upright).
r me

  © / authors / citation / 12.05.04

 

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