The Macroscopic Structure of Wood

Understanding the macroscopic structure of wood and its formation is essential to identifying wood and evaluating its properties and quality. Depending on genetic background, environmental conditions, and tree developmental stage, the macroscopic structure of wood can vary greatly and produce specific macroscopic signatures. Here, a comprehensive outline of the wood's macroscopic structure and the features that can be used to identify wood by macroscopic examination is presented. The planes of observations are first depicted, and the fundamental differences between softwoods and hardwoods are outlined. Then, all the different cell characteristics, arrangements, and distributions that can be macroscopically observed are illustrated with their influence on wood figure and texture and non-anatomical features.

Automated summary

Understanding the macroscopic structure and formation of wood is crucial for wood identification and quality evaluation. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the macroscopic structure of wood and the features that can be observed to identify wood. It starts by illustrating the planes of observations and outlining the key differences between softwoods and hardwoods. It then presents various cell characteristics, arrangements, and distributions that can be macroscopically observed, along with their impact on wood figure, texture, and non-anatomical features.