Cross-section through maple tree wood (Acer sp.) showing the annual growth ring and component wood cells. Nice small compressed and larger tracheids.

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Cross-section through maple tree wood (Acer sp.) showing the annual growth ring and component wood cells. Nice small compressed and larger tracheids. One large xylem vessel element. An annual ring consists of both fast and slow growth wood elements (cells). During Autumn and Winter cell growth slows dramatically to produce very small, compressed cells. During the Spring and Summer cell growth is rapid producing large, open cells. The wood cells are primarily tracheids. Interspersed among the tracheids are long ray cells with bordered pits. The larger wood cells are xylem vessel elements. Magnification: x135 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres.

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Size: 2613px × 3483px
Photo credit: © DENNIS KUNKEL MICROSCOPY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 210198c, acer, annual, colored, coloured, cross, electron, false-colored, false-coloured, maple, micrograph, plant, ring, scanning, section, sem, sp., tracheids, tree, wood, xylem