Softwoods lack pores (vessels)

Rays are uniformly thin (mostly uniseriate)

In this Larch (Larix laricina) specimen, growth occurred mainly by early wood, and the late wood appears as darker red segments separating the early wood. Note vertical strips of wood rays and the lack of "pores" (vessels). The rays are a single cell wide, i.e. uniseriate (most of the time), which is characteristic of conifer woods.