Resistances to fluid flow of model xylem vessels with simple and scalariform perforation plates

The resistances of xylem vessel walls and perforation plates has been investigated using 18 large-scale physical models made of plastic tubing into which scale models of plates were inserted. Flow of water through vessels was modelled using glycerol instead of water to keep the Reynolds number below 0.1. The technique proved easy, cheap and reliable. Results showed that perforation plate resistance is low compared with the resistance of the walls, whatever the plate morphology; plates only provided 0.6–18.6% extra resistance. Simple plates provided less resistance than scalariform plates, but because they are arranged closer together in vessels, resistance values (1.7–5.1%) overlap with those of scalariform plates. The resistance of scalariform plates varied in a systematic way with their morphology. For a given plate angle, increasing the number of bars increased resistance. For a given bar number, increasing the angle of the plate to the vessel axis also increased the resistance. However, for a given gap between bars, increasing the angle of the plate to the vessel axis decreased resistance. These results are discussed in the light of theories about the function of perforation plates.