Variation of Cellular Proportions in Sweetgum and their Relation to Other Wood Properties

Authors

  • Andrew W. Ezell

Keywords:

Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua, cellular proportion, fibers, vessels, parenchyma

Abstract

Sweetgum trees from natural stands in Louisiana were sampled along both vertical and radial gradients. From these samples, within-tree variation of cellular proportion has been established. Overall means indicate that vessels comprise 56.6% of the wood, fibers comprise 25.2% of the wood, and parenchyma comprises 18.1% of the wood. Regression analyses using fiber or vessel proportion provided curves that offer predictive capacities with high precision. In sweetgum, fiber proportion generally increases, and vessel proportion generally decreases with increasing height while parenchyma proportion remains relatively unchanged. The same trends were observed in later years of deposition.

References

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Published

2007-06-28

Issue

Section

Research Contributions