Tyloses and ecophysiology of the early carboniferous progymnosperm tree Protopitys buchiana.

ABSTRACT: Trunk woods of Early Carboniferous Protopitys buchiana show the earliest example of tylose formation and the first record for a progymnosperm. Protopitys tyloses are more densely located in inner trunk woods and near growth layer boundaries. We suggest, therefore, that an altered physiological state of living ray cells, during dormancy and/or following water stress, was necessary to make the woods vulnerable to tylose formation. Coupled with the distribution and proximity of abundant wood ray parenchyma to large xylem conducting cells, the positions of conduits filled with tyloses can be interpreted as ecophysiological responses of the plant to changes in local environment. In addition, some xylem conducting cells might have functioned as vessels. Fungal hyphae are present in some trachear

SUBMITTER: Scheckler SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4242351 | biostudies-literature | 2003 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature