vascular ray
Quick Summary
In botany, a vascular ray is a band of cells that extends radially from the cambium into both the xylem and phloem of a plant's root or stem. These rays are composed of parenchyma cells and are responsible for conducting fluids horizontally within the plant. They appear like spokes of a wheel in a cross-section of the stem.1
Vascular rays are part of the plant's vascular system, which includes xylem (transporting water and minerals from roots to leaves) and phloem (transporting food from leaves to other parts of the plant). In woody plants, a secondary vascular system develops from the vascular cambium, which produces both secondary xylem and secondary phloem. This cambium contains ray initials that form vascular rays, which are crucial for the translocation and storage of food and water. These rays can be distinguished as xylem rays within the xylem tissue or phloem rays within the phloem tissue.234
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vascular systemVascular rays extend radially across the stem, assisting in conduction from the vascular bundles to tissues alongside them.
Read MoreVascular rays extend radially across the stem, assisting in conduction from the vascular bundles to tissues alongside them.
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angiospermSecondary vascular system…all dimensions—and they produce the vascular rays, which constitute the horizontal system of secondary tissues; this horizontal system acts in the translocation and storage of food and water.
Read More…all dimensions—and they produce the vascular rays, which constitute the horizontal system of secondary tissues; this horizontal system acts in the translocation and storage of food and water.
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