Anatomical characterization of wood for identification of the Tachigali Aubl. species

Abstract

In the Amazon many forest species present problems of identification and obtaining botanical material with reproductive structures is not always possible. The macro and microscopic characteristics of the wood of three species of the genus Tachigali Aubl were analyzed in order to determine basic differences among the species. The collection of material was carried at the Forest Management Unit III, in the Flona do Jamari (Jamari National Forest), where we selected arboreal individuals from the species Tachigali poeppigiana Tul., Tachigali setifera (Ducke) Zarucchi & Herend and Tachigali subvelutina (Benth.) Oliveira-Filho, commonly known in Brazil as Tachi Preto (Black Tachi), Tachi Vermelho (Red Tachi) and Tachi Amarelo (Yellow Tachi), respectively, in which the coloring of the core is the main attribute for assigning their vernacular name. Heartwood samples were collected for the making of the specimens. The axial parenchyma was vasicentric and unilateral for T. poeppigiana and T. setifera, and unilateral and sparse for T. subvelutina. Pores were classified as medium and large for T. setifera and T. poeppigiana and very uncommon for T. subvelutina; however, they are medium and very uncommon for the three species. All species showed uniseriate, non-stratified and homogeneous rays. We concluded there are anatomical characteristics that allow the differentiation of the species from the genus Tachigali, which may be used to assist in forest management plans, as well as the surveillance system.