Wood anatomy

In recent years, wood anatomy also helps developing new techniques in preventing the illegal logging of forests,[4] that is the harvest, transportation, purchase, or sale of timber in violation of laws, leading to a number of environmental issues such as deforestation, soil erosion and biodiversity loss.

The structural attributes of each xylem anatomical feature are largely predetermined upon formation and significantly influence its functionality, encompassing the transport and storage of water, nutrients, sugars, hormones, and mechanical support provision.

[6] The wood anatomy includes the study of the structure of the bark, cork, xylem, phloem, vascular cambium, heartwood and sapwood and branch collar.

The main topic is the anatomy of two distinct types of wood: In botanical terminology, softwoods are sourced from gymnosperms, primarily conifers, whereas hardwoods originate from angiosperms, specifically flowering plants.

The inception of wood anatomy traces its roots back to the 17th century, during which pioneering scientists such as Robert Hooke, Marcello Malpighi, Nehemiah Grew, and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek emerged as the first individuals to utilize simple light microscopes.

Hooke, leveraging his high technical expertise, dedicated efforts to enhance the quality of microscopes, focusing particularly on optimizing illumination and refining control over height and angle.

Through the utilization of his personally crafted and refined microscope lenses, van Leeuwenhoek demonstrated an exceptional ability to discern intricate details, including bordered pits, perforation rims in vessels, and a macrofibrillar substructure within the cell wall.

Von Mohl also accurately depicted most structural aspects of bordered pits in conifers.Taking a chemical perspective on the woody cell wall, Payen introduced the term "cellulose" to describe one of its constituents, emphasizing its similarity to starch.

[20] The 20th century witnessed significant advancements in technology, influencing the wood anatomy area, and thus enabling a more detailed analysis of microstructural, chemical, and physiological characteristics.

Contributions to the understanding of the fine structure of the wood cell wall were also made by Albert Frey-Wyssling and Reginald Dawson Preston, who employed light microscopy-based techniques.