Skill:
• Drawing the structure of primary xylem vessels in sections of stems based on microscope images
When drawing the structure of primary xylem vessels, it is important to remember the following features:
- Vessel elements should be drawn as a continuous tube (tracheids will consist of interlinking tapered cells)
- The remnants of the fused end wall can be represented as indents (these forms perforated end plates)
- The xylem wall should contain gaps (pits), which enable the exchange of water molecules
- Lignin can be represented by either a spiral (coiled) or annular (rings) arrangement
Structure of Primary Xylem Vessels in Stems
The Most Amazing Thing About Trees
Video created by Derek Muller at Veritasium