Rays are numerous but the walls of ray cells are not preserved
( Figs. 4D and 5B, C ). They are distorted to different
degrees by taphonomic agents, and in cross sections their distal
ends are fl ared. Where they are least distorted, their sides are
parallel and they have widths of 9–12 μ m ( Fig. 5B, C ). In tangential
longitudinal sections, rays are identifi ed as narrow, tall
spindle-shaped spaces that are bordered by tracheids and show
secondary thickenings only on the tracheid side ( Fig. 5E–I ).
The shortest rays identifi ed are ca. 90 μ m tall, and some are
>150 μ m tall. Between 14 and 20 rays can be counted in individual
cross sections ( Fig. 4D ). Their inner ends are located 1 to
14 cells from the primary xylem cylinder ( Fig. 3C ).