Abstract
The classification of xylem components is an essential first step in the analysis of xylem formation. Based on the IAWA list of xylem features it emerges that there are a large number of features which are mainly of taxonomic interest (see Chapter 3), important for the distinction of species and genera. However, in mixed vegetation, these features appear not to have any obvious effect on the functioning of species which are distinct by taxonomic features in comparison to neighbors which lack these features. These features are also not disadvantageous. They make certain taxonomic groups distinct. An example would be ringporosity, which distinguishes Quercus from Fagus, and both coexist in mixed forests.
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© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Schweingruber, F., Börner, A., Schulze, ED. (2013). Ontogeny of the Xylem. In: Atlas of Stem Anatomy in Herbs, Shrubs and Trees. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20435-7_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20435-7_5
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-20434-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-20435-7
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