Vessel Elements

Return

If a tracheary element has perforations, then it is considered to be a vessel element. As a group, flowering plants have vessel elements as well as tracheids. Conifers never have vessel elements.

• Link to image of a cross section of Medicago stem showing the detail of the xylem facing the pith. The red-stained cells are vessel elements.
• Link to image of a cross section of Cucurbita stem showing xylem tissue consisting of vessel elements and parenchyma cells
• Link to image of a longitudinal section of Cucurbita stem showing a vessel with pitted secondary walls.
• Link to image of a longitudinal section of Cucurbita stem showing vessel elements with incomplete secondary walls.
• Link to image of a longitudinal section of Cucurbita stem showing pits.
• Link to view of a vessel element of macerated oak wood.