• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.1 s.129
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• pp.38-47
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• 2005

Compression, lateral, and opposite woods in a branch of Pinus parviflora S. et Z. were described and compared in the qualitative anatomical aspects through light and scanning electron microscopy. Tracheid transition from earlywood to latewood in the compression wood appeared to be relatively more gradual than in the opposite or lateral wood. Growth ring width and proportion of latewood were thought to be greater in the compression wood than in the lateral or opposite wood. The latewood tracheids of compression wood in transverse surface were mostly round, differently from those of lateral and opposite woods with square to angular shapes. Also, intercellular spaces, helical cavities and checks, and slit-like pit apertures were observed only in the compression wood tracheids. Cross-field pitting in the compression wood appeared not to be used as diagnostic guide because of their severe alteration from normal fenestriform or window-like type to cupressoid to taxodioid types. In tangential surface, fusiform rays in the compression wood were wider but lower than those in the lateral wood or opposite wood. In conclusion, compression wood was different from lateral and opposite woods but lateral and opposite woods were almost identical in qualitative anatomical features.