J Integr Plant Biol. ›› 1991, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (3): -.

• Research Articles •    

The Secondary Xylem Anatomy of 6 Desert Plants of Caragana

Gao Wan-hong and Zhang Xin-ying   

Abstract: The structures of secondary xylem of 6 species of Caragana, which grow in desert regions of Northwest of China, are described in details. The main quantitative characters are compared with species. And a key to the identification of wood structures of 6 species is given. The main similarities of secondary xylem of these 6 species are as follows: vessels per mm2 very numerous, percentage of multiple vessels high; vessel elements very short, perforations simple and in almost horizontal end walls; intervessel bordered pits alternate and vestured, and vessels with spiral thickenings. Libriform fibres are very short, and usually with thick end walls, and with simple pits. Rays are heigh to very low, and with multiseriate and uniseriate, and with heterogeneous type Ⅰ and Ⅱ. In addition, there are differences in other characters, e.g. vessel distribution, amount of axial parenchyma and distribution, ray frequency, crystals present or absent, and crystal distribution, if present. These differences can be used as the anatomical characters to identify the wood structures of the 6 species. In this article we also discuss the relation between the structure of xylem elements and the environmental influences.

Key words: Caragana, Desert plant, Secondary xylem anatomy, Xerophyte

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