Trachea features and fiber dimensions of fast-growing tree: A case study on wood samples from eastern Indonesia

Abstract

Fast-growing plant is one of the characteristics of pioneer plants. Commonly, the plants grow in areas that is exposed to sunlight such as open area and forest edges. Fast-growing plants have different anatomical and physical wood characteristics compare with slow-growing plants. Therefore, this study aims to examine the anatomical characteristics of fast-growing plants, especially trees, namely the fiber cells and trachea features. A total of 33 wood samples from 28 species were used in this study. We used wood samples from Eastern Indonesia deposited at Herbarium Bogoriense. Examined wood samples are taken from branches with 1-2 cm of diameter. The anatomical characters observed were focused on two types of cells, namely fiber cells (fiber length, fiber diameter, fiber cell wall thickness, lumen width, identification of septate fibers and fibers pit) and the trachea (perforation type, pit arrangement, and pit form). From the observations of all wood samples showed that the length of fiber cells are classified as short (18 species) and medium (10 species) fiber. There are two groups of fiber cell wall thickness viz. very thin (16 species) and thin to thick (12 species). Septate fibers only found in 7 species especially Chisocheton and Teijsmanniodendron. Fiber’s pit observed in Horsfieldia parviflora, Mallotus peltatus, dan Neuburgia corynocarpa. All species have simple tracheal perforation with alternate or opposite pit arrangement. Moreover, branch wood samples have polygonal pit shape, oval or combination of those two shapes were found in some species, such as Horsfieldia parviflora, Sandoricum koetjape and Teijsmanniodendron bogoreinse.