Cornus florida, Flowering Dogwood Tangential Section

This is an image from a stained standard section of Cornus florida, Flowering Dogwood, made by John P. Limbach of Ripon, Wisconsin.

Transmitted Brightfield Illumination

Definition/Function:

KINGDOM: Plantae UNRANKED: Angiosperms UNRANKED: Eudicots UNRANKED: Asterids ORDER: Cornales FAMILY: Cornaceae GENUS: Cornus SPECIES: florida

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 opposite in yellowpoplar, redgum, tupelo gum, holly, and dogwood. In holly and dogwood it may be intermittent. this opposite pit pattern is uncommon in temperate zone hardwoods and is a good diagnostic feature.

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/Cornus_florida