Betula papyrifera, Paper Birch Radial Section Under the Microscope

Betula papyrifera, Radial Section

This is an image from a stained standard section of Betula papyrifera made by John P. Limbach of Ripon, Wisconsin.

Transmitted Brightfield Illumination

Definition/Function:

KINGDOM: Plantae UNRANKED: Angiosperms UNRANKED: Eudicots UNRANKED: Rosids ORDER: Fagales FAMILY: Betulaceae GENUS: Betula SPECIES: papyrifera

Significance in the Environment:

Characteristic Features:

Scalariform perfurations between vessels are exclusive in many temperate zone hardwoods: Alnus, Arbutus, Betula, Carpinus, Cornus, Ilex, Liquidambar, Liriodendron, Nyssa, Ostrya, and Oxydendron.

Intervessel pits are alternate (diagonal). This is the most common arrangment for temperate zone hardwoods. The pits for Betula are bordered, the opening is linear.

Ray-Vessel pitting is similar to vessel-vessel pitting for Acer, Albizzia, Alnus, Betula, Carya, Catalpa, Cladrastis, Cornus, Diospyros, Fraxinus, Gleditsia, Gymnocladus, Ilex, Junglans, Melia, Nyssa, Paulownia, Platanus, and Rhamnus.

Associated Particles:

References:

Core, H.R., W.A. Cote, and A.C. Day, WOOD STRUCTURE AND IDENTIFICATION, Syracuse Wood Science Series, Vol. 6, 1979.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betula_papyrifera