Studies on compression wood—part VII: Distribution of lignin in normal and compression wood of tamarack [Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch

Abstract

The distribution of lignin has been studied in tracheids and ray cells of normal and compression wood of tamarack [Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch]. The three layers in the secondary wall of normal wood tracheids are lignified to approximately the same extent, and previous evidence that the S 3 layer should contain a higher proportion of lignin than the other regions has not been confirmed. The lignin follows closely the orientation of the cellulose microfibrils in all three layers. Compared to the tracheids, the ray cells contain a denser network of lignin in their secondary wall. Only a small proportion of the total lignin in compression wood tracheids is present in the compound middle lamella. The thick S 1 layer is only slightly lignified; the orientation of the lignin in this region is that of the transversely oriented, lamellated microfibrils. The outer portion of S 2 consists largely of lignin but also contains lamellae of cellulose microfibrils which probably have the same helical orientation as the microfibrils in the inner part of S 2. The latter region, which contains the helical cavities, consists of lamellae of cellulose microfibrils which are uniformly encrusted with lignin. The ray cells in compression wood appear to be lignified to the same extent as in normal wood. Transverse sections of the cells reveal a lateral orientation of the lignin. The orientation of the cellulose microfibrils in the S 2 layer of the first-formed springwood tracheids of compression wood is the same as in the cells which are formed later. It is suggested that for ease of reference, the outer, lignin-rich layer in compression wood tracheids be referred to as the S 2(L) layer.