Warts in the evolution of angiosperm wood

Abstract

The occurrence and distribution of the warty layer in twelve species of hardwoods have been investigated by transmission and/or scanning electron microscopy. Samples were selected on the common feature of reportedly having both primitive vessel types with scalariform perforation plates and more evolutionarily advanced vessel types with simple plates. Among the six angiosperm families represented, warts were generally found in the more primitive-type vessel elements. The more advanced vessel types rarely displayed a warty layer. Warts were also sparse or absent in other specialized cells, the fiber tracheids and libriform fibers. From the evidence presented here and in the literature, the variable presence and morphology of the warty layer in hardwoods (or for wood in general) appears to be attributable to a phylogenetic trend. According to this trend, conifer tracheids and primitive hardwood cells are nearly always warted, but as the cell type becomes more advanced or specialized, it becomes increasingly wart-free.