Wide-band tracheids (WBTs) were present in species with dimorphic and monomorphic wood. In all types of dimorphic wood in which WBTs were present, the phase that contains the WBTs is produced first. In seedlings of Cipocereus minensis the first phase consists of vessels and parenchyma in a matrix of wide-band tracheids and the second phase consists of a fibrous matrix with vessels and parenchyma (wide-band tracheid wood followed by fibrous wood). Adult plants of Discocactus placentiformis and Melocactus ernestii have monomorphic WBT wood which consists of parenchyma distributed in the form of small clusters between the vessels and wide-band tracheids. In all species examined a band-like secondary wall is present in the form of annular rings or a helix. We observed annularhelical thickening in D. placentiformis and M. ernestii or a double-helix in D. placentiformis.
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1 June 2006
Wide-band tracheids in Brazilian cacti
Gladys Flávia Melo-de-Pinna,
Emilia Arruda,
Deusa Deise Abreu
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