Species List

Coniferous wood | Dicotyledon wood | A-Z by Latin Name | A-Z by Familiy Name
 
 
 

Betula alba (B. pendula / B. pubescens)

Common Birch, White Birch

Betulaceae

 
 

Transversal section

   
  Diffuse-porous. Growth ring boundaries rather distinct, marked by 2 to 4 rows of radially flattened cells. According to some growth conditions these boundaries can be rather indistinct. Pores rather sparsely scattered, solitary, in radial multiples of 2 to 4 pores and in clusters. Pore size varies highly from one growing site to the other. Diffuse, sparse apotracheal parenchyma.
 
 

Radial section

   
  Scalariform perforation plates with 10 to 15 (sometimes up to 25) bars. Homogeneous rays, occasionally square marginal cells. Ray-vessel pits numerous and extremely small. Libriform fibres present, fibre-tracheids absent.
 
 

Tangential section

   
  Rays 2- to 4-seriate, also often uniseriate. Average ray height: 10 to 25 cells.
 
 

Key characters

   
  Diffuse-porous. Pores sparsely dispersed. Rays 2- to 4-seriate. Scalariform perforation plates. Ray-vessel pits numerous and extremely small.
 
 

Remarks

   
  The wood of the Betula species (excl. Betula humilis and Betula nana) cannot be differentiated on the basis of wood anatomy.
 

  © / authors / citation / 03.05.06