Title
Xylem of rattans: Vessel dimensions in climbing palms
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2002
Volume Number
89
Source Publication
American Journal of Botany
Abstract
We examined 11 species in four genera of rattans (Calamus, Daemonorops. Korlhalsta. Plectocoma) growing in their native rainforest habitat in Singapore Using aqueous safranin dye, we found that >95% of all vascular bundles at the base of a mature stem were functioning to transport water. We determined the frequency of vessel lengths in the long, stems of these climbing palms by infiltration with dilute latex paint Separate length distribution were made for metaxylem and protoxylem vessels, in both. there were many short and a few long vessels. The longest protoxylem vessels ranged from 7.5 to 62 cm in length, but one stein had an exceptional protoxylem vessel measuring 3.0 m. Maximum metaxylem vessel diameters were positively correlated to maximum vessel lengths in these species The longest metaxylem vessel was found in K rigida and was 3 96 m in length and was constructed from similar to1200 vessel elements (cells). The widest vessel in that same stein was 532 mum in diameter. Long. wide vessels decrease resistance and increase water transport efficiency In addition, we suggest that wide metaxylem vessels may have an important function in water storage.