Answer» | Hardwood | Softwood | | Comes from angiosperm trees that are not monocots; trees are usually broad-leaved. Has vessel elements that transport water throughout the wood; under a microscope, these elements appear as pores. | Comes from gymnosperm trees which usually have needles and cones. Medullary rays and tracheids transport water and produce sap. When viewed under a microscope, softwoods have no visible pores because of tracheids. | | hardwoods are more likely to be found in high-quality furniture, decks, flooring, and construction that needs to last. | About 80% of all timber comes from softwood. Softwoods have a wide range of applications and are found in building components (e.g., windows, doors), furniture, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), paper, Christmas trees, and much more. | | Examples of hardwood trees include alder, balsa, beech, hickory, mahogany, maple, oak, teak, and walnut. | Examples of softwood trees are cedar, Douglas fir, juniper, pine, redwood, spruce, and yew. | | Most hardwoods have a higher density than most softwoods. | Most softwoods have a lower density than most hardwoods. |
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