BOTANY

Detailed explanation-1: -The water-conducting cells in the xylem of conifers are tracheids, which are overlapping single-celled hollow conduits, closed at both ends.

Detailed explanation-2: -Conifer xylem has less cellular diversity than angiosperm xylem, and consists of two cell types: tracheids (approx. 90–93% of the xylem surface area) and parenchyma (approx. 7–10% surface area) (Hacke, 2015).

Detailed explanation-3: -Most of the diameter of mature conifer stems consists of secondary xylem (wood) produced by the vascular cambium, a permanent cylinder of dividing cells that lies just inside the bark.

Detailed explanation-4: -Conifers had higher xylem area but lower ray area relative to leaf area. For the same xylem conductivity, phloem area and ray parenchyma area did not differ between conifers and broadleaved trees. Xylem growth rate was similar relative to leaf area and phloem area.