Polarised light micrograph of a section of wood from a sugar maple tree Acer saccharum. The micrograph shows large water-conducting elements called vessels, which appear as blue holes in this cross-section. The parallel red bands running from upper left to lower right are cells of the horizontal xylem system, the rays, which distribute water to the cambium & act as storage centres for starch & lipids. The diagonal red band running across the rays from upper right to lower left is an annual growth ring. Magnification x110 at 35mm, x180 at 6x4.5cm size. Microcosmos P.71 fig.4.8.