Noncellulosic polysaccharides of the cell wall that are easily decomposed by dilute acid, yielding several different simple sugars.

(Gr. hemi, half + cellulose)  Any cellulose-like carbohydrate, but with differing chemical composition. Together with pectin and lignin, hemicelluloses form the cell wall matrix.

A carbohydrate component of the cell walls of wood

a polysaccharide consisting largely of xyloglucans and is attached to the microfibrils of the cell wall

Alkali-soluble, non-cellulosic polysaccharide portion of a wood cell wall.

is a carbohydrate which in addition to cellulose and lignin is the most important components of timber.

A carbohydrate resembling cellulose but more soluble; found in the cell walls of plants.

One of the 5 types of dietary fiber, hemicellulose can be either a soluble fiber or an insoluble fiber, depending on its food source and structure within the food. Some types of hemicellulose, such as psyllium husks, have a tremendous water holding capacity.

complex carbohydrate found in the cell walls of plants and seaweeds. One of the components of dietary fibre.

A hemicellulose can be any of several heteropolymers (matrix polysaccharides) present in almost all cell walls along with cellulose. While cellulose is crystalline, strong, and resistant to hydrolysis, hemicellulose has a random, amorphous structure with little strength. It is easily hydrolyzed by dilute acid or base as well as myriad hemicellulase enzymes.