II.] 



ITS PROPERTIES AND VARIETIES. 



23 



marked zones, corresponding to spring and autumn 

 wood, e.g. some Indian Leguminosae, &c. Zones of 

 tissue of other kinds (especially wood-parenchyma) 

 often occur in such timbers, and have to be under- 



FiG. 7. — Transverse section of the wood oi Pongarnia glabra, Vent., selected to show 

 a type of timber not uncommon in India. No distinct annual rings appear, but 

 the wood is traversed by wavy bands of tissue, which may run into one another or 

 not. The vessels ( " pores " ) are few and scattered, and differ in size ; the medul- 

 lary rays well marked, but not large. To this type — differing in other details — 

 belong many species of figs, acacias and other Asiatic Leguminoseee, &c. 



stood, since they affect the property of the wood very 

 differently, e.g. some of the figs. 



None of the conifers or dicotyledonous trees, 

 however, are devoid of medullary rays, and distinctive 

 characters are based on the breadth and numbers of 

 these : as examples for contrast may be cited the fine 



