Publications

An anatomical reference for the woody flora of the Eastern Mediterranean, with special emphasis on Cyprus. By integrating wood, bark, and pith characteristics, the atlas provides a comprehensive tool for plant identification and supports research in ecology, archaeology, forestry, and environmental sciences. 

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A reference work describing the anatomical diversity of dicotyledonous stems beyond wood and trees alone. Covering xylem, phloem, cortex, and periderm, the book promotes a whole-stem perspective and provides a foundation for ecological, taxonomic, and functional studies of plant structure.

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An accessible introduction to the hidden world of wood. Written for students, educators, and curious readers, the book explains how trees grow, transport water, store carbon, and record their history within their tissues, revealing why wood is one of the most remarkable biological materials on Earth.

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A practical guide to identifying wood using features visible with the naked eye or a hand lens. Focusing on timbers commonly used in Europe and CITES-listed species, the atlas bridges the gap between laboratory wood anatomy and real-world applications in timber trade, conservation, education, and forensic investigations.

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Trees obey universal hydraulic rules

From shrubs to giant trees, the dimensions of water-conducting cells follow remarkably consistent scaling patterns, revealing fundamental principles of plant design.

Wood structure changes from roots to canopy

Tree stems are not anatomically uniform. Conduit size and structure change systematically along the plant, helping trees move water efficiently over long distances.

Climate influences how wood becomes wood

Temperature affects the lignification of plant cell walls, linking climate directly to the structure and function of wood.

Tree growth cannot always compensate for warming

Faster growth does not necessarily mean greater long-term carbon storage. Wood density, lignification, and other anatomical factors can change in ways that limit climate-mitigation potential.

Ancient wooden objects still contain hidden information

Wooden artefacts are not merely cultural objects. They can preserve biological, environmental, technological, and chronological information that can still be extracted centuries or millennia later.

Wood can reveal species identity long after a tree was cut

The anatomical structure of wood allows species identification in archaeological objects, museum collections, commercial products, and forensic investigations.

Tree rings can tell stories even when they cannot be dated

Short ring sequences that are traditionally considered unsuitable for dendrochronology can still reveal relationships among objects, manufacturing practices, and aspects of their history.

Volcanoes can leave traces inside wood

Microscopic anomalies known as blue rings can record extreme cooling events following major volcanic eruptions, preserving evidence of past environmental disturbances.

Wood can preserve the memory of environmental disasters

Major disturbances can leave traces that persist for decades within tree tissues. Our research showed that Scots pine trees exposed to radiation following the Chornobyl accident retained anatomical and hydraulic signatures of that exposure, demonstrating how wood can serve as a long-term archive of environmental stress.

Trees record the fading of Arctic summers

Blue rings in conifers form when summer temperatures are too cold for wood cells to fully lignify. A 300-year record from northern Scandinavia showed that these signatures were common during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries but vanished after 1902, revealing a dramatic decline in summer cold extremes and providing a unique biological perspective on Arctic warming.

Musical instruments can reveal hidden stories through their wood

The appearance and commercial name of a wood do not always reveal its true identity. By applying a multi-scale anatomical approach to traditional Japanese string instruments, we showed how wood anatomy can uncover the species used by instrument makers, providing new insights into material selection, craftsmanship, and cultural traditions.

Wood anatomy can uncover hidden sustainability risks

Anatomical identification revealed that aquarium woods marketed under generic labels originated from diverse species and habitats, including roots and taxa of conservation concern. The study showed how wood identification can help expose unsustainable sourcing practices and support responsible trade.

Wood density matters as much as tree growth

Climate change can alter not only how much wood trees produce, but also the density of that wood. Our research showed that long-term declines in wood density can reduce carbon accumulation, challenging the assumption that increased tree growth automatically translates into greater carbon sequestration.

Trees leave a record of reproduction in their wood

Producing seeds is costly. Our research showed that mast years in European beech leave measurable signatures in wood anatomy, opening the possibility of reconstructing past reproductive events directly from tree rings and wood structure.

The origin of the word “cell” lies in dead bark

The concept of the cell began not with living organisms, but with cork. Re-examining Robert Hooke's observations showed that the famous "cells" of Micrographia were empty compartments in dead plant tissue, offering a fresh perspective on one of the most iconic moments in the history of biology.

Wood preserves the behaviour of the insects that fed on it

The tunnels and damage left by wood-boring insects are more than signs of decay. Anatomical analysis can reveal which tissues were consumed and how larvae interacted with wood, providing new insights for archaeology, conservation, and the study of wood biodeterioration.