FPPS 111 WOOD AND FIBER ANATOMY

INTRODUCTION

Wood anatomy is the science of separating the different parts of wood to analyze
their situation, structure and function within the material. Emphasis is given on features
that could assist in the identification of an unknown samples as well as on the different
characteristics that could influence the proper utilization of the material.

Wood is the hard, fibrous tissue that comprises the major part of stems, branches
and roots of trees. It is essentially the cell wall material of cells produced during cell
division. Once the cell dies, it will leave behind its cell wall which could be utilized as
lumber, plywood, etc.

There are three types of cells present in plants;

1. Conducting cells- elongated, axial cell which serves as water and food material
conduits of plants.

2. Support cells – elongated axial cells that provide mechanical support to the plant.

3. Storage cells – short, thin-walled cells with living protoplasm. They are
concerned with food storage and distribution.

The proportion of these individual cell types vary within the plant depending on the
species, position within the stem. This provides complexity in wood properties as well as
dictates the proper utilization of the material.

IMPORTANCE OF THE COURSE TO:

1. Forestry - assist foresters in the proper collection of forest revenues.

2. Taxonomy – useful in the identification of unknown samples for proper

documentation.

3. Phylogenetic studies – helpful in determining the origin of a particular sample.

4. End – use determination – efficient and maximized material conversion.

DISTINGUISHING WOODY FROM NON-WOODY PLANTS

 1. Must be vascular plants. Possess specialized conducting tissues namely the
xylem and the phloem.

2. Must be perennial plants.

3. Must possess a stem that persists from year to year.

4. Exhibit secondary thickening or growth in diameter.

TYPES OF WOODY PLANTS

1. Tree - woody plant that attains a height of at least 20 feet. Usually has a single
self-supporting stem or trunk.

2. Shrub – woody plant that seldom exceeds 20 feet in height and usually has a
number of stems.

3. Woody Lianas – climbing wood vines. Able to climb upward in seek of

sunlight by twinning, clambering to other trees. Sometimes produce aerial
roots or tendrils.

SOFTWOODS AND HARDWOODS

Based on botanical origin woody plants are further classified into softwoods and
hardwood, both of which belong to the division spermatophyte.

1. Softwoods – belongs to the gymnospermae subdivision characterized by plants

having needle like leaves, seeds borne naked. Commonly known as evergreens
since most remain green all year round.

2. Hardwoods – belongs to the angiospermae subdivision characterized by plants

having broad leaves with seed enclosed in ovaries e.g., fruits. Commonly known
as deciduous plants

Besides the more obvious differences in external appearance, these two also differ
in structural make-up. Cell types, their relative number and their arrangement within the
structure differ from one another resulting to their variation in properties.

WOOD MONOCOTS

One conspicuous feature of many tropical floras is the presence of tree-like

monocotyledonous plant with large and long-lived trunks e.g., Palms, rattan, bamboos etc.
OTHER PLANT FIBER SOURCES

1. Straw – use for course corrugated boards, solid fiber board and low quality
wrapping papers, Ex. Rice straw, wheat etc.

2. Esparto – grass occurring in Spain and Northern Africa.

3. Sugarcane Bagasse

4. Bamboo

5. Manila rope – used in making flour, cement bags and other bags.

6. Cotton stalks

7. Leaf fibers – abaca, pineapple etc.