Applied Optical Microscopy Series 2001
August 20 – 24
Wood Anatomy and Identification
Harry A. Alden, Ph.D., Microscopist
This course provides an introduction to wood anatomy of temperate and tropical species and to their macroscopic and microscopic identification. Emphasis is placed on real-life applications of analysis of samples from wooden artifacts from museum and archaeological contexts (including charcoal). Areas covered include sampling, microtechniques, character identification and identification of unknowns using reference sets, dichotomous keys and computer applications. Students are welcome to bring an object for analysis.
Images from the course text.
American Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)
Crystals
"Gashes"Spruce (Picea sp.)
Resin DuctsYellow Pine Group (Pinus sp.)
Ray DetailsBald Cypress (Taxodium sp.)
Axial ParenchymaOaks (Quercus spp.)
Red Oak Group
White Oak Group
White Oak Group
