Vascularization of the scutellum of wheat

Abstract

The pattern of vascularization of the wheat scutellum shortly after germination is reconstructed from serial sections of plastic-embedded specimens. Nearly half of the phloem in the scutellum is unaccompanied by xylem. Most of the phloem tissue consists of distinct strands, composed of a central sieve tube encircled by a single ring of phloem parenchyma cells. The possible functions of this unusual vascular system are discussed in detail.