Differentiation of circular vessels in isolated segments of Fraxinus excelsior

The differentiation of circular vessels was studied in stem segments which had passed winter dormancy and were stimulated by application of auxin in vitro. The circular vessels differentiated near the basal end of internodes. The prevailing form of circular vessels was a pair of cells connected by two perforations. Two-cell vessels never had only one perforation. The occurrence of two perforations strongly supports the view that auxin flux is a stimulus for vessel differentiation and not the very presence or concentration of auxin; the circular vessels developed as a results of a circular flux. In general, the circular vessels appeared in contact with rays. Their formation was delayed in comparison with that of normal vessels.