A word that I have not uttered or thought about for probably thirty years popped into my head when looking at this picture of …….Lenticels. Although I was able to associate the word with the horizontal lines found on the Birch tree trunk I remembered nothing about the structure or function of Lenticels.
“Raised circular, for sale oval or elongated areas on stems and roots are known as lenticels.” After reading this I saw lenticels everywhere..on my carrots, beets, apples, potatoes and houseplants.
Lenticels function as pores to allow for the exchange of gases. It’s how tissues within stems, trunks and roots get oxygen.
For some tree species such as the Pignut Hickory and Northern Spicebush, the shape of the lenticels can help with winter identification.
http://www.namethatplant.net/gallery/gallery_glossary.shtml?term=lenticel
Split Rock side trail, Bruce Trail, Mono, ON
