Hardwoods are characterized by vessels

May give rise to ring-porous appearance in cross-sectional view

An example of a ring-porous wood in a transverse-sectional view of white oak (Quercus alba). Early wood "pores" (large vessels) form a conspicuous band in the region of spring wood growth, and were produced by the fusiform initials of vascular cambium.

The bulk of the wood is composed of libriform fibers (1). Note the wide rays (2) and parenchyma (3) In which direction (up or down) would you find the vascular cambium?