Comparative wood anatomy of 56 species of Lauraceae from Yunnan, China

Abstract

Wood anatomy of 56 species from 11 genera of Lauraceae collected from Yunnan, China were investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. Detailed descriptions and comparisons of wood anatomy of different species are given in the paper to help better identification of Lauraceae wood. The qualitative and quantitative data show that wood structures are very similar among the Lauraceae studied. They are almost diffuse-porous, mainly solitary, minority radial, or diagonal multiples. Vessels have simple perforation and scalariform perforation, and the bars of scalariform perforation have bifurcations. The intervessel pits are almost alternate. Wood rays are uniseriate and multiseriate, with the former being relatively rare. All species have axial parenchyma, most of which are vasicentric. The species of Beilschmiedia and Syndiclis marlipoensis also have marginal parenchyma. Oil and mucilage cells are common in axial parenchyma and ray cells. Wood fibers are composed of libriform fibers and fiber tracheids. Many species have abundant septate fibers. Individual differences are found in several species, which may be related to genetic or environmental factors. We have roughly concluded that Beilschmiedia and S. marlipoensis have a close affiliation for they both have simple perforated plates and marginal parenchyma but with no septate fibers. Almost all species of Litsea, Neolitsea, and Actinodaphne obovata have septate fibers, simple and scalariform perforate plate, and scanty paratracheal and vasicentric parenchyma, indicating that they might be sister taxa.