Atlas of Woody Plant Stems: Evolution, Structure, and Environmental Modifications (Electronic book text)

This atlas describes the anatomical basics of dendrochronology and wood technology. It gives a unique assemblage of microscopic slides of wood and bark anatomy and demonstrates the reaction of stems to different environments. It provides insight into the evolution of wood, to the variation of wood anatomy in response to climate and disturbances, and it gives an introduction to the methodology used to study wood. Special attention has been given to the unique feature of secondary growth. It occurs in annuals as well as in thousand-year-old living plants and it is the base for the observed large morphological and physiological diversity of woody species. The aesthetic and perfect functional structures in the anatomical slides and the pictures of the studied species are accentuated by the appealing design of the book. This, along with the wide-ranging scientific content make the book both attractive and unique.