Vessel and Fibre Property Variation in Eucalyptus Globulus and Eucalyptus Nitens: Some Preliminary Results

Abstract

Vessel areas and distributions in Eucalyptus globulus and E. nitens vary in a consistent, significant and predictable way from pith to bark and within annual rings. Trends in vessel areas and distributions can be quantified despite the presence of indistinct annual rings and false rings. There is evidence of a vessel free area in first earlywood in E. nitens in which fibre properties are predictably different. At 5% height the vessel free area in the 1991 and 1992 annual rings is 13% and 1O% respectively.