Madake Bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides) Longitudinal Section

This is an image from a stained standard section of Madake bamboo in the region of the node. It has been stained with safranin and astra blue. Safranin stains the cellulose red and astra blue stains the lignin blue. The cells at the top of the image are long fiber running the length of the bamboo along with a vessel that stains blue because of the high lignin content. The lower part of the image shows parenchyma cells and the branching bundle of long fiber and the lignin rich vessel cells that will support the leaf extending from the node.