Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Wood anatomy differs fundamentally between gymnosperms (softwoods) and angiosperms (hardwoods) in terms of cell specialization for water transport and mechanical support.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Hardwoods (Angiosperms) have highly specialized cellular structures:
- Vessels conduct water.
- Fibres provide mechanical support.
2. Softwoods (Gymnosperms) have a more primitive, simpler wood anatomy.
- They lack vessels and true fibers.
- Instead, they possess tracheids, which are long, single cells with bordered pits.
- In softwoods, these tracheids perform both functions: water conduction and providing structural mechanical support to the tree.
Step 3: Final Answer:
In softwoods, both conduction and mechanical support are performed by Tracheids.