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Primary xylem ofscilla hyacinthoides (liliaceae)— the wool-bearing bulb of theophrastus

Xilema primario deScilla hyacinthoides (Liliaceae)

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Abstract

The “wool” of bolbos ho eriophoros described by Theophrastus in his Historia plantarum or Enquiry into plants is the primary xylem of the bulb scales of Scilla hyacinthoides (Liliaceae). When bulb scales are pulled apart transversely the gyres of the helical secondary wall deposited on the thin primary wall of the waterconducting elements are stretched and appear to be woolly threads.

Resumen

el “bulbo lanoso” de Teo-frasto. La “lana” del bolbos ho eriophoros descrita por Teofrasto en Historia plantarum es el xilema primario de las escamas del bulbo Scilla hyacinthoides. Cuando las escamas son partidas transversalmente, los giros helicoidales depositados sobre la delgada pared celular primaria se estiran, aparentando hebras de lana.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, 84105, Beer Sheva, IL, Israel

    A. Witztum

  2. Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University, 76100, Rehovoth, IL, Israel

    M. Negbi

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  1. A. Witztum
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  2. M. Negbi
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Witztum, A., Negbi, M. Primary xylem ofscilla hyacinthoides (liliaceae)— the wool-bearing bulb of theophrastus. Econ Bot 45, 97–102 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02860053

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02860053

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