Quercus alba, White Oak Cross Section

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

Transmitted Brightfield Illumination

Definition/Function:

KINGDOM: Plantae UNRANKED: Angiosperms UNRANKED: Eudicots UNRANKED: Rosids ORDER: Fagales FAMILY: Fagaceae GENUS: Quercus SPECIES: alba

Significance in the Environment:

Characteristic Features:

Libriform fibers (thick walls with a very small lumen, minute, simple pitting) are common in Oak, Quercus species. Morus rubra and Celtis also have frequent libriform fibers. These structures only occure in hardwoods.

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/Quercus_alba