Vessels in Cardwellia sublimis containing aluminium and magnesium salts

Abstract

White deposits occurred in isolated, randomly located vessels in areas of a Cardwellia sublimis sample. They were shown to contain aluminium cation with about one-tenth the amount of magnesium cation. Other studies have indicated the main salt to be the very insoluble aluminium succinate. Deposits may fill cross-sections of vessels which are only occasionally seen in association with ray parenchyma. It is concluded that the salts are formed at the pits of particular associations of ray parenchyma cells with vessels and the salts are then forced into the rest of the vessel.