Hardwood

Hardwood

This shows a horizontal section across part of the woody core of a Maple tree. Wood forms a tough rigid support for the tree. Under the bark is a very thin layer of living cells (cambium) which divide to form wood cells on the inside and bark cells on the outside. The wood cells develop thickened walls and it is this thickening, together with the pith rays (seen here as dark lines) and the conducting tubes (seen as open circles) which give the wood its strength. Back to Sugar Maple! {TP}