Atlas of Stem Anatomy in Herbs, Shrubs and Trees

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This work, published in two volumes, describes the wood and bark anatomies of 3000 dicotyledonous plants across 120 families, showcasing the anatomical and phylogenetic diversity within the Northern Hemisphere. The first volume focuses on Early Angiosperms, Eudicots, Core Eudicots, and Rosids, while the second volume is dedicated to Asterids. Volume 1 includes microsections of xylem and phloem from 1200 species across 85 families, representing various life forms in temperate zones, spanning altitudinal gradients from Mediterranean lowlands to alpine regions in Western Europe. The findings are globally significant, analyzing 500 species from diverse areas such as the Caucasus, Rocky Mountains, Andes, Canary Islands, Sahara, Eurasia, Arabia, Southwest North America, and boreal/arctic regions in Eurasia and Canada. The presence of annual rings in all life forms indicates that herbs and dwarf shrubs are valuable for reconstructing annual biomass production and understanding interannual dynamics of plant associations. The commonality of secondary growth anatomy is crucial for comprehending evolution and adaptation across life forms, from the 2 cm tall whitlow grass (Draba arctica) to the 40 m tall beech (Fagus sylvatica) in Central European forests. This study paves the way for extensive research in dendrochronology, wood anatomy, taxonomy, and ecology.