Atlas of woody plant stems : evolution, structure, and environmental modifications

he ,,Atlas of Woody Plant Stems" is a com- Naturally, it was impossible to cover completely the Tprehensively illustrated book with short, in- enormous variability of plant life forms. We have formative texts. We chose this layout because plant tried, however, to illustrate the main principles and anatomy and morphology can only be conveyed by features. Many decades of collection and prepa- detailed pictures. In addition, a vivid presentation tion provided the basis for this book. should attract a broader public, not only the s- cialist. We hope that the combination of anatomy Fritz Schweingruber would like to thank the Swiss and morphology will create interest and curiosity. Federal Research Institute WSL, that offered him Amateurs will enjoy the wide range of pictures; hospitality after his retirement. The authors thank all interested readers will be caught by particular chap- the students and colleagues that have, for decades, ters; specialists will delve into aspects and photo- collected and prepared samples, and who helped graphs that may have never been presented before; with the English translations. Thanks to John Kirby teachers may use the pictures for illustrations in who made the fnal English editing. classes with students.

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Schweingruber (formerly, Inst. of Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland) and coauthors offer a gem of a book--much more than a simple atlas. Through more than 700 microscope or whole plant images in beautiful color, the life history of woody plants is pictorially explained in detail with concise explanatory captions. The book starts with the evolution of stems before moving to the development of secondary growth as the basis for the enormous structural variability in modern plants. The second chapter is devoted to the cell elements and construction of the stem and root of the plant body. Thus grounded in a good review of plant anatomy, readers are prepared for the nicely presented subsequent chapters that demonstrate the highly variable nature of plant growth and its adaptations to extremely different growth conditions, including the modification of xylem and phloem by ecological factors and anatomical plasticity caused by weather and climate. Rarely does one find a single book that also includes plant alterations by severe events such as defoliation by insects or by chemical pollution. This work offers a wealth of information typically not found in a single source. ^BSumming Up: Essential. Lower-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers. T. P. Owen Jr. Connecticut College

Preface	p. V
Abbreviations and Technical Remarks	p. X
Introduction	p. 1
1 The Evolution of Plant Stems in the Earth's History
The Landscape in the Paleozoic	p. 4
Plant Body of Vascular Plants	p. 6
The Evolution of a Stabilizaton System	p. 8
The Contemporary Fossil Psilotum Nudum?	p. 9
Diversification of Plants Containing Tracheids
The Lycopods	p. 10
The Horsetails	p. 11
The Fossil and Contemporary Ferns	p. 12
Contemporary Ferns	p. 14
Trees Grow Taller and Bigger	p. 16
Successful Seed Plants with Naked Seeds
Ginkgos and Cycads	p. 18
Gnetophytes (Ephedra, Gnetum and Welwitschia)	p. 20
The Most Successful Seed Plants with Naked Seeds: Conifers	p. 22
Successful Plants with Seeds Enclosed in a Carpel: Angiospermae	p. 24
Systematic of Plant Life	p. 26
2 The Structure of the Plant Body
Life Forms in Different Vegetation Zones	p. 28
Principal Growth Forms of Stems	p. 30
Principal Construction of Roots and Shoots	p. 32
Principal Construction of the Xylem and Phloem
Cell Types, Cell Walls and Cell Contents	p. 34
3 Secondary Growth: Advantages and Risks
Primary and Secondary Growth	p. 40
Principle Structure of Plants with Secondary Growth	p. 42
Physiological Ageing in Plants with Secondary Growth	p. 43
The Risks of Water Transport
Stabilized and Permeable Cell Walls	p. 44
The Risks of Stem Thickening
Dilatation and Phellem Formation	p. 46
The Risks of Over-Production
Programmed Cell Death	p. 50
The Risks of Instability
Eccentricity	p. 52
Reaction Wood	p. 54
Formation of Lignin and Thick Cell Walls	p. 56
Internal Optimization	p. 58
The Risk of Decomposition
Natural Boundaries and Protection Systems	p. 60
Defence Barriers Around Wounds	p. 62
The Risk of Shedding Plant Parts
Abscission	p. 64
4 Modification of the Stem Structure
The Primary Stage of Growth
The Construction of Vascular Bundles	p. 70
The Arrangement of Vascular Bundles in Mosses, Lycopods and Ferns	p. 72
The Arrangement of Vascular Bundles in Conifer and Dicotyledonous Plant Shoots	p. 74
The Secondary Stage of Growth
Conifer Xylem	p. 76
The Xylem of Dicotyledonous Angiosperms	p. 78
The Primary and Secondary Stages of Growth of Monocotyledons
Macroscopic View	p. 82
Microscopic View	p. 84
The Secondary Stage of Growth
Conifer Phloem	p. 86
The Phloem of Dicotyledonous Angiosperms	p. 88
Cambial Growth Variants and Successive Cambia	p. 90
The Third Stage of Growth: The Periderm	p. 92
5 Modification of the Xylem Within a Plant
Modification of the Xylem Within a Plant
Conifer: Root, Twig and Stem	p. 96
Deciduous Tree: Root, Twig and Stem	p. 98
From Root to Stem Structure	p. 99
Modification by Aging
Changing Growth Forms	p. 100
Changing Growth and Leaf Forms	p. 101
Changing Wood Anatomical Structures	p. 102
Change of Phloem and Periderm Structures	p. 104
6 Modification of the Xylem and Phloem by Ecological Factors
Intra-Annual Density Fluctuations, Phenolic and Crystal Deposits	p. 108
Intra-Annual Cell Collapse, Callous Tissue and Ducts	p. 110
Interannual Variation of Latewood Zones	p. 112
Long Term Variations: Sudden Growth Changes	p. 113
Inter- and Intra-Annual Variations of the Phloem	p. 114
7 Modification of Organs
Modification of Shoots
Long and Short Shoots	p. 118
Shedding Needles, Male and Female Flowers	p. 121
Thorns and Spines	p. 122
Vertical, Horizontal and Drooping Twigs	p. 124
Latent and Adventitious Shoots	p. 126
The Lateral Modification of Stems	p. 128
8 Anatomical Plasticity
Wood Structural Variability
In Different Families	p. 132
In Different Growth Forms	p. 134
Under Different Site Conditions	p. 136
Modification Caused by Different Shoot and Root Functions	p. 140
9 Modifications Caused by Weather and Climate
Major Wood Anatomical Types in Different Climatic Regions	p. 144
Modification of the Annual Tree-Ring Formation Caused By Seasonal Climatic Changes	p. 148
Modification of the Annual Tree-Ring Formation Caused By Seasonal Climatic Changes: The Genetic Component	p. 150
Modification of the Xylem due to Intra-Seasonal Variations: Ecological, Climatic and Individual Compontents	p. 152
10 Modifications Caused by Extreme Events
Lack of Light	p. 154
Severe Frost	p. 158
Drought and Drainage	p. 160
Defoliation by Insects	p. 162
Defoliation Caused by Chemical Pollution and Nuclear Radiation	p. 164
Crown Destruction due to Grazing	p. 166
Crown Destruction Caused by Pruning and Pollarding	p. 168
The Felling of Stems	p. 170
Growing Together: Anastomosis	p. 172
Crown, Stem and Site Destruction by Forest Fires	p. 174
Crown and Stem Destruction by Parasites and Pathogens	p. 178
Mechanical Stress on Stems due to Imbalance and Shock	p. 180
Physiological Stress Caused by Stem Wounds	p. 184
11 From Anatomical Features to Plant Structures
How do Woody Plants Get Old?	p. 188
How Large Can Trees Get?	p. 190
The Structural Diversity of Woody Plants	p. 192
Protection Against Environmental Extremes
Temperature Extremes	p. 195
Avoiding Shade	p. 197
Storage of Reserves in Seasonal Climates	p. 198
Other Special Ecological Adaptations
Herbivory and Ant Plants	p. 199
Mangroves and Flooding	p. 200
Mistletoes	p. 201
Phyllods, Phylloclades, Green Woody Stems	p. 202
12 Decay of Dead Wood
Insects	p. 204
Fungi	p. 206
Carbonization	p. 208
Petrification	p. 210
Compression	p. 212
13 Microscopical Preparation
Collection and Storing of Material and Preparation for Sectioning	p. 216
Making Thin Sections	p. 216
Preparation of Thin Sections for Permanent Slides	p. 217
Observation and Photography	p. 217
References	p. 219
List of Species	p. 221
Subject Index	p. 227

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