MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY a NAAWAN

College of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences

Department of Forest Sciences

Exercise no. 3
Familiarization with the Different Types of Parenchyma Cells

Parenchyma is commonly referred to as soft tissue, which consists of two main types: apotracheal- one
that is typically independent of vessels, and paratracheal type which is associated with the vessels. Both
types may be present in some timbers. These are composed of thin-walled cells generally with simple pits
whose functions are primarily for the storage and distribution of food materials.

Apotracheal parenchyma may be diffuse, marginal (terminal or initial), apotracheal banded, or diffuse-in
aggregates. When the parenchyma is scattered singly, appearing sometimes as light-colored dots among
the fibers or through the wood, it is said to be diffuse.

Paratracheal parenchyma may be vasicentric, aliform, confluent, or paratracheal banded. Vasicentric

parenchyma forms a complete sheath, narrow or broad around the pores or circular or slightly oval in
shape. If the soft tissue consists of wing-like lateral extensions, it is referred to as aliform. It is confluent
when a series of aliform shapes are connected together, forming irregular tangential or diagonal lines or
bands. When it forms concentric lines or bands associated with the pores, it is referred to as paratracheal
banded. The arrangement of parenchyma in various kinds of wood is not clear, being intermediate
between 2 or more kinds and moreover, more than one kind of parenchyma may be present in
the same wood.

Parenchyma Types

Methodology
Apotracheal growth ring
boundary

Vessel/pores

diffuse marginal banded

Parenchyma Diffuse in
aggregate

Paratracheal

Vessel/pores

scanty vasicentric aliform confluent

Objectives
At the end of the exercise, the students should be able to:
1. Identify the different types of parenchyma present in the different wood samples;
2. Differentiate species of wood using parenchyma as a basis in identification

Methodology
Examine closely under the hand lens of the different wood samples provided to you. Identify the types of
parenchyma present on each sample you have observed.
1. Common name: Anabiong
Scientific name: Trema orientales
DAO group: Pulpwood & matchwood species
Parenchyma: Apotracheal- diffuse

2. Common name: Tindalo

Scientific name: Afzelia rhomboidea
DAO group: Premium species
Parenchyma: Paratracheal- aliform

3. Common name: Ilang-ilang

Scientific name: Cananga odorata
DAO group: Pulpwood/matchwood species
Parenchyma: Apotrachea/diffuse in aggregate

4. Common name: Manggasinoro

Scientific name: Shorea Philippinensis
DAO group: Manggasinoro group
Parenchyma: Vasicentric- paratrachea

5. Common name: Durian

Scientific name: Durio zibethinus
DAO group: Lesser- used species
Parenchyma: Apotracheal- diffuse

6. Common name: Rain Tree

 Scientific name: Samanea saman
DAO group: Furniture construction hardwood
Parenchyma: Aliform

7. Common name: Talisay

Scientific name: Terminalia catappa
DAO group: Furniture construction hardwood
Parenchyma: Paratracheal -vasicentric

8. Common name: Falcata

Scientific name: Paraserionthes Falacataria
DAO group: __________
Parenchyma: Paratracheal -vasicentric

9. Common name: Lapnisan

Scientific name: Aquilaria cumgiana
DAO group: __________
Parenchyma: Apotracheal -diffuse

10. Common name: Bangkal

Scientific name: Nauelea orientalis
DAO group: Furniture/contribution hardwood
Parenchyma: Paratracheal- Aliform
-confluent

11. Common name: Narig

Scientific name: Vatica mangachapoi
 DAO group: Narig group
Parenchyma: Paratracheal- confluent

12. Common name: Teak

Scientific name: Tectona grandis
DAO group: Premium species
Parenchyma: Paractracheal- vasicentric

13. Common name: Gmelina

Scientific name: Gmelina arborea
DAO group: __________
Parenchyma: Paractracheal- vasicentric

14. Common name: Ipil-ipil

Scientific name: Leueaend leucocephala
DAO group: Lesser-used species
Parenchyma: Paratracheal- Aliform
-confluent

15. Common name: Agcho del Monte

Scientific name: Casuaring equisete fulig
DAO group: Furniture/construction hardwood
Parenchyma: Paratracheal- vasicentric
-confluent
16. Common name: Mangkono
Scientific name: Xanthostemon verdoganianus
DAO group: Furniture/construction hardwood
Parenchyma: Paratracheal- vasicentric
-confluent

17. Common name: Santol

Scientific name: Sandoricum koetjape
DAO group: Furniture/construction hardwood
Parenchyma: Apotracheal -diffuse

18. Common name: Red lauan

Scientific name: Shorea negrosensis
DAO group: Philippine Mahogany group
Parenchyma: Paratracheal- Aliform
-confluent

19. Common name: Mahogany

Scientific name: Sweitenia macrophylla
DAO group: Furniture/construction hardwood
Parenchyma: Apotracheal -diffuse

20. Common name: Mangium

Scientific name: Acacia mangium
DAO group:
Parenchyma: Paratracheal-scanty
21. Common name: Narra
Scientific name: Pterocarpus indicus
DAO group: Premium species
Parenchyma: Apotracheal- diffuse

22. Common name: Ulayan/ oak tree

Scientific name: Lithocarpus Sulithi
DAO group:Furniture/construction hardwood
Parenchyma: Paratracheal- confluent

23. Common name: Mangga

Scientific name: Mangifera
DAO group:
Parenchyma: Paractracheal- vasicentric

24. Common name: White Lauan

Scientific name: Shorea contorta
DAO group: Philippine Mahogany group
Parenchyma: Apotracheal- diffuse
25. Common name: Banaba
Scientific name: Lagerstroemia speciosa
DAO group: Furniture/construction hardwood
Parenchyma: Paratracheal- confluent

26. Common name: Nangka

Scientific name: Artocarpus heterophyllus
DAO group: Furniture/construction hardwood
Parenchyma: Paratracheal- confluent

27. Common name: Baungon

Scientific name: Citrus grandis
DAO group:
Parenchyma: Paratracheal- aliform confluent

28. Common name: Yakal

Scientific name: Shorea astylosa
DAO group: Yakal group
Parenchyma: Paratracheal scanty

29. Common name: Yakal M

Scientific name: Shorea contorta
DAO group: Yakal group
Parenchyma: Paratracheal- vasicentric
-confluent
30. Common name: __________
Scientific name: _________
DAO group: __________
Parenchyma: __________