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. Note the libriform fibers (see below). Tyloses are common in White Oak (see below).

Transmitted Off Crossed Circular Polarized Light

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.

Tyloses are the membranous tissue that occur in the vessels of some woods. They are common in White Oak and in Black Locust. They occur primarily in the heartwood.

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