Summary
Water appears to exist in the xylem of trees under negative pressures for long periods of time, often for years. At the same time, it can move through wood in axial direction with relative ease. This remarkable combination of efficiency and safety is only possible because of the intricate three-dimensional structure of wood. Small-diameter and short vessels are safer water conductors, wide and long ones are more efficient. This paper describes how and where vessels end, how water moves from one vessel to the next, and how length distribution and the three-dimensional network of vessels make wood an efficient and safe water conductor.
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Zimmermann, M.H. (1982). Functional xylem anatomy of angiosperm trees. In: Baas, P. (eds) New Perspectives in Wood Anatomy. Forestry Sciences, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2418-0_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2418-0_3
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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