Question

Physiologically functional part of wood is

• A. Heart wood only
• B. Sap wood only
• C. Only primary wood
• D. Both heart wood and sap wood

Answer 1

The correct option is B Sap wood only

Sapwood is also called as alburnum. It is outer, living layers of the secondary wood of trees, which engage in transport of water and minerals to the crown of the tree. The cells therefore contain more water and lack the deposits of darkly staining chemical substances commonly found in heartwood. Sapwood is thus paler and softer than heartwood and can usually be distinguished in cross sections.

Heartwood, also called as 'duramen'. It is dead, central wood of trees. Its cells usually contain tannins or other substances that make it dark in colour and sometimes aromatic. Heartwood is mechanically strong, resistant to decay, and less easily penetrated by wood preservative chemicals than other types of wood.