Question

what is heartwood and what is sapwood?

Answer 1

Heart wood: It is the dead, inner wood which often comprises majority of the stem's cross section. It is distinguished from sap wood by it's lighter colour.
Sap wood: It is the living, outermost portion of a woody stem or a branch. It is darker in colour when compared to Heart wood

Answer 2

★ HEARTWOOD AND SAPWOOD:-

→ Heartwood: It is the hard, dead, dark brown- coloured, highly lignified and non functional central part of the secondary xylem of old trees.

→ The dark colour is due to deposition of organic compounds like tannins, resins, oils, gums, aromatic substances, essential oils etc.

→ These substances make it hard, durable and resistant to the attacks of microorganisms and insects.

• Function:- It gives mechanical support to stem.

→ Sapwood: It is the peripheral region of secondary xylem. It is living and lighter in colour.

→ It is involved in the conduction of water and minerals from root to leaf.