Comparative wood anatomy of species of Psychotria L. (Rubiaceae) in Atlantic Rainforest remnants of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Jonas B C Marques,Maura Da Cunha,Cátia H Callado,Guilherme R Rabelo,Sebastião J Da Silva Neto

doi:10.1590/0102-33062015abb0006

Jonas B C Marques, Maura Da Cunha + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-33062015abb0006

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Abstract

Psychotria is the largest Rubiaceae genus and one of the most abundant in the Atlantic Rainforest of Rio de Janeiro State. The present work aims to characterize and compare the wood of nine of these species. ThePsychotria wood were characterized by: slightly distinct growth rings; diffuse porosity; solitary vessels or on radial multiples of 2-6 or clusters of 3-5 vessel elements, with terminal and lateral simple perforation plates and vestured and alternate intervessel and vessel-ray pits; septate fiber-tracheids; and rare axial parenchyma. Although, the wood anatomy of thePsychotria may be considered homogeneous, the statistical analyses, based on qualitative and quantitative features, allowed the segregation of the species and indicated the importance of habit (arboreous or shrubby) on the wood anatomy of the species. It is worth mentioning that the sampling was realized in only one studied site (Ilha Grande), which contributed to the conclusion that the wood characteristics are more related to the specificities of each studied taxon than to with environmental variations.

Highlights

The remaining remnants of Atlantic Forest in the state of Rio de Janeiro represent almost 20% of its original area in the state
This study aims to characterize the wood anatomy of nine species of Psychotria from the Atlantic Forest, in order to determine which characteristics are most useful for taxonomic study and which are more useful for ecological investigation
Among species comparisons of wood anatomy described below following the terminology of IAWA guidelines (IAWA committee 1989)

Summary

Introduction

The remaining remnants of Atlantic Forest in the state of Rio de Janeiro represent almost 20% of its original area in the state. Rubiaceae is one of the most important plant families, in terms of species richness, in the Atlantic Forest remnants of the state of Rio de Janeiro (Silva Neto & Peixoto 2012). The genus is subdivided into three subgenera: Psychotria (pantropical), Tetramerae (some species in Africa and Madagascar) and Heteropsychotria (neotropical) based on morphological characters and geographical distribution (Steyermark 1972; Lopes et al 2004). This genus is considered paraphyletic and is found in both hemispheres in predominantly shady locations and in relatively moist soils in sub-woods (Taylor 1996; Bremer & Eriksson 2009)

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