Anatomical variations in wood among four native species of Leguminosae grown in arid areas of China

Abstract

Morphological features and anatomical variations are described and illustrated in detail for four native species of Leguminosae grown in arid sandy regions in China, which are Hedysarum scoparium Fisch.et Mey., Caragana korshiskii Kom., Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. and Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (Maxim. ex Kom.) Cheng f. All species showed similar morphological features: distinct growth ring boundaries, ring to semi-ring-porosity, simple perforation plates, alternate intervessel pitting, nonseptate fibers, paratracheal confluent axial parenchyma, helical thickenings and heterocellular rays. However, the vessel arrangement and their quantitative features were different. A. mongolicus had smaller vessel diameters and larger vessel frequency, while the values in the other three species were similar, but bigger than those in A. mongolicus. The variation of vessel lengths and fiber lengths along a horizontal direction showed an irregular tendency. There were significant differences in both fiber lengths and vessel element lengths among trees and within trees, except for A. mongolicus. The relationships between anatomical features of secondary xylem and the adaptability of these species to desert environments are also discussed.