secondary xylem
Quick Summary
Secondary xylem is a type of plant vascular tissue that develops from the vascular cambium in woody plants. It is responsible for transporting water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant and also provides structural support. This tissue is formed as the plant grows in girth, creating a ring of new xylem around the primary xylem.12
In mature trees, the secondary xylem makes up the bulk of the stem and roots. The outer layers, known as sapwood, are living and actively conduct water, while the inner layers, called heartwood, consist of dead cells that provide structural support. The age of a tree can often be determined by counting the annual rings of secondary xylem formed.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
xylem…large tree, only the outer secondary xylem (sapwood) serves in water conduction, while the inner part (heartwood) is composed of dead but structurally strong primary xylem. In temperate or cold climates, the age of a tree may be determined by counting the number of annual xylem rings formed at the…
Read More…large tree, only the outer secondary xylem (sapwood) serves in water conduction, while the inner part (heartwood) is composed of dead but structurally strong primary xylem. In temperate or cold climates, the age of a tree may be determined by counting the number of annual xylem rings formed at the…
Read More
treeGeneral features of the tree body…toward the inside are called secondary xylem, or wood, and those formed toward the outside of the cambium are called secondary phloem. The bark and the wood together constitute the secondary plant body of the tree. The woody vascular tissue provides both longitudinal and transverse movement for carbohydrates and water.
Read More…toward the inside are called secondary xylem, or wood, and those formed toward the outside of the cambium are called secondary phloem. The bark and the wood together constitute the secondary plant body of the tree. The woody vascular tissue provides both longitudinal and transverse movement for carbohydrates and water.
Read More
