List four contrasting features that can be used to distingui

List four contrasting features that can be used to distinguish Pinus wood from Tilia wood.

Solution

1. Pinus is a gymnosperm tree, tall and evergreen, with thick and scaly bark with ring of branches arising from same node, having pines (needle like) leaves whereas Tilia (lime trees) is an angiosperm, deciduous tree, with sturdy trunk which stands like a pillar and subdivides into numerous ramifications with dense foliage .

2. Wood of Pinus is without vessels or pores (softwood) whereas the Tilia wood is wood with vessels or pores (hardwood).

3. Pinus wood is mainly comprised of trachieds and ray cells with very few xylem fibres. On the other hand, Tilia wood (being an angiosperm) possess vessels, fibers and parenchyma with plenty of xylem fibers.

4. Pinus wood is commercially valued for its timber and wood pulp. Its timber is denser and more resinous and therefore more durable. Tilia, also known as basswood because of its inner fibrous bark , is one of the lightlest woods. Thus it serves as an easily worked timber with good acoustic properties, and is used for carving work.