Question

What is pycnoxylic and manoxylic wood?

Answer 1

The wood of gymnosperms is classified into pycnoxylic and manoxylic.

I) Pycnoxylic wood:

1. It is compact and strong wood.
2. It has a large number of xylem tracheids, a small amount of pith, and cortex, and very little parenchyma.
3. The wood is densely packed with narrow parenchymatous rays.
4. The cambial activity is long-lived.
5. It is commercially important, durable, and suitable for timber purposes.
6. For example, Pinus.

II) Manoxylic wood:

1. It is non-compact and softwood.
2. It has a small number of xylem tracheids, a large amount of parenchyma, a large pith, and a cortex.
3. The parenchyma cells are filled with starch grains.
4. The wood is porous with broad parenchymatous rays.
5. The cambial activity is short-lived.
6. The wood is not durable, commercially unviable, and not suitable for timber purposes.
7. For example, Cycas.