Vertical stratification drives divergent spatial trade-offs among xylem cell types in angiosperm trees of a mountain forest in eastern China

Specifically, we predicted that in the canopy stratum, where high demands exist for efficient hydraulic conductance and robust mechanical support, the primary trade-off involves balancing investment between vessels and fibers.

Conversely, we expected that in the subcanopy and understory strata, characterized by greater resource limitation (particularly light), and heightened vulnerability to physical disturbances, pest, and pathogen attacks, the dominant trade-off occurs between fibers and parenchyma. This dataset contains fractions of three different cell types (vessels, fibers, ray parenchyma) in the xylem for 119 individuals across 39 species from the mountainous areas of eastern China.