Xylose is the main building block for the hemicellulose xylan, which comprises about 30% of some plants (birch for example), far less in others (spruce and pine have about 9% xylan). Xylose is otherwise pervasive, being found in the embryos of most edible plants. It was first isolated from wood by Finnish scientist, Koch, in 1881, but first became commercially viable, with a price close to sucrose, in 1930.

• Hudson, C.S.; Cantor, S.M., eds. (2014) [1950]. Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry. Vol. 5. Elsevier. p. 278. ISBN 9780080562643.
• Miller, Mabel M.; Lewis, Howard B. (1932). “Pentose Metabolism: I. The Rate of Absorption of d-Xylose and the Formation of Glycogen in the Organism of the White Rat after Oral Administration of d-Xylose”. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 98 (1): 133–140. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(18)76145-0.