Scanning electron micrograph of the wood (secondary xylem) of the Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris showing both vertical (bottom) & horizontal (top) cut s

---

Scanning electron micrograph of the wood (secondary xylem) of the Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris showing both vertical (bottom) & horizontal (top) cut surfaces. The large-celled wood at right is early (spring) growth; the late wood (left) has small, thick- walled cells and is much denser. The vertical tube- like structures seen in both early and late wood are tracheids. In softwoods like pine, these carry out both sap- conducting and mechanical functions; the large early tracheids are primarily concerned with conduction, whereas the much smaller late ones act primarily as structural elements. Magnification: x60 at 8x10 inch size.

---

Size: 5189px × 3569px
Photo credit: © DR JEREMY BURGESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: botany, nature, pine, pinus, plant, plants, scots, secondary, sem, softwood, sylvestris, tracheid, type, wood, xylem