Sherwin Carlquist – författare

Ecological Strategies of Xylem Evolution provides an in-depth exploration of xylem adaptations across various plant species, examining the ecological and physiological factors that drive structural differences within vascular plants. This volume moves beyond traditional "primitive versus specialized" classifications, investigating the reasons certain xylem traits have evolved in response to environmental factors like moisture availability, transpiration rates, and mechanical demands. By integrating a wide array of xylem configurations and species across diverse habitats, this work offers a broader perspective on plant adaptation, addressing complex questions such as the persistence of "primitive" xylem traits and potential reversibility in xylem evolution. Through comparative analysis, Ecological Strategies of Xylem Evolution reveals that xylem diversity is not merely a product of statistical correlations but rather a reflection of adaptive responses within specific ecological contexts. This study emphasizes the significance of wide-ranging comparisons across vascular plant groups, highlighting how anatomical data reflect ecological pressures and adaptations within genera and families. A vital resource for botanists, ecologists, and evolutionary biologists, this text bridges plant anatomy and ecology, providing a comprehensive approach to understanding xylem evolution''s role in plant resilience and adaptation. This title was originally published in 1975. Ecological Strategies of Xylem Evolution provides an in-depth exploration of xylem adaptations across various plant species, examining the ecological and physiological factors that drive structural differences within vascular plants. This volume moves bey

This book is not concerned directly with wood identification, although ability to recognize the wood features discussed in the preceding chapters is essential for work in wood identification. The present chapter is concerned with how wood characters have been and can be used in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies - and also which wood characters are likely or not likely to be useful, in general. In wood identification, a match of an unknown wood with known woods is usually attempted. In systematic application of wood data, similari­ ties and differences among species, genera, and families are assessed ( usually, today, in terms of a cladistic analysis). One should be especially cautious in interpreting relation between taxa the woods of which have attained similar evolutionary levels. This possibility is a very real one, because so many wood features have evolved similarly in phylads that are not closely related to each other. For example, storied wood structure has been attained in a number of phylads independently. By itself storied wood structure cannot be used as an indicator of relationship between two families, but a cladogram ( using a range of phyletically reliable features) might demoo­ strate that two families acquired storied structure before divergence ( a synapo­ morphy) and thereby a strong case for relationship of the two families is made.

This book is not concerned directly with wood identification, although ability to recognize the wood features discussed in the preceding chapters is essential for work in wood identification. The present chapter is concerned with how wood characters have been and can be used in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies - and also which wood characters are likely or not likely to be useful, in general. In wood identification, a match of an unknown wood with known woods is usually attempted. In systematic application of wood data, similari­ ties and differences among species, genera, and families are assessed ( usually, today, in terms of a cladistic analysis). One should be especially cautious in interpreting relation between taxa the woods of which have attained similar evolutionary levels. This possibility is a very real one, because so many wood features have evolved similarly in phylads that are not closely related to each other. For example, storied wood structure has been attained in a number of phylads independently. By itself storied wood structure cannot be used as an indicator of relationship between two families, but a cladogram ( using a range of phyletically reliable features) might demoo­ strate that two families acquired storied structure before divergence ( a synapo­ morphy) and thereby a strong case for relationship of the two families is made.

This book is not concerned directly with wood identification, although ability to recognize the wood features discussed in the preceding chapters is essential for work in wood identification. The present chapter is concerned with how wood characters have been and can be used in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies - and also which wood characters are likely or not likely to be useful, in general. In wood identification, a match of an unknown wood with known woods is usually attempted. In systematic application of wood data, similari­ ties and differences among species, genera, and families are assessed ( usually, today, in terms of a cladistic analysis). One should be especially cautious in interpreting relation between taxa the woods of which have attained similar evolutionary levels. This possibility is a very real one, because so many wood features have evolved similarly in phylads that are not closely related to each other. For example, storied wood structure has been attained in a number of phylads independently. By itself storied wood structure cannot be used as an indicator of relationship between two families, but a cladogram ( using a range of phyletically reliable features) might demoo­ strate that two families acquired storied structure before divergence ( a synapo­ morphy) and thereby a strong case for relationship of the two families is made.