Three-dimensional Structure of Wood

The reader has only to turn a few pages of this book to appreciate that these scanning electron microscope photographs are of superb quality. The great advantage of the scanning electron microscope over the light and transmission electron microscopes is that having a vastly greater depth of field, the subject is viewed as a three-dimensional structure.

Topics covered include : the cell wall ; distribution and patterns of wall pitting; perforation plates; the structure of rays; axial parenchyma; growth rings ; vessel distribution ; resin canals; and gymnosperm and angiosperm woods. The photographs relating to each topic are preceded by a succinct section of text, written for the undergraduate botany /forestry student, and a short reference list of suggested further reading.