Xyleenvrije

Xyleenvrije is a Dutch-language term used to describe materials or tissues that lack xylem tissue. In botany, xylem is the vascular tissue responsible for water transport and structural support in many plants. A xyleenvrije sample or region would be described as devoid of xylem elements, either because it arises from non-woody parts such as herbaceous stems or leaves, or because xylem has been removed or excluded during processing for study.

Etymology and usage notes: the word is formed from xylem (xyleem in Dutch) and vrij, meaning free. The combination literally means “free of xylem.” Spelling and usage can vary in Dutch texts, with some authors using xyleenvrij or xyleemvrij depending on the context. The term is more common in Dutch-language botany, histology, or wood-science literature than in English-language sources.

Context and applications: in educational or research contexts, xyleenvrije descriptions help distinguish tissues or samples that do not contain the primary water-conducting tissue from those that do. This can apply to cross-sections of herbaceous plants, processed plant materials, or anatomical preparations where xylem has been removed to focus on surrounding tissues such as cortex, phloem, epidermis, or parenchyma. It is not a widely standardized term in all botanical disciplines, so readers should consult the source for the precise meaning in that context.

See also: xylem, plant anatomy, phloem, wood science, plant histology.