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. 2013 Aug 5;4:285. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00285

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Copyright © 2013 Pittermann, Brodersen and Watkins.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

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Virtual transverse and longitudinal sections through frond stipes of Dicksonia antarctica (A), Woodwardia fimbriata (B) and Polystichum munitum (C) visualized with high resolution X-ray computed tomography (HRCT). The vascular bundles are highlighted in orange and show a small sample of the diversity of stelar patterns in ferns, with the continuous band of xylem in D. antarctica (A), to the sectored xylem of W. fimbriata (B). Despite the dissected appearance of the xylem in P. munitum (C), 3D analysis reveals that the bundles make frequent connections resulting in a highly integrated network (Brodersen et al., 2011). The 3D organization and packing of tracheids along with the xylem associated parenchyma likely play a significant role in determining whether ferns are able to actively restore hydraulic function following xylem embolism.