Wood anatomy of some members of family Lauraceae with reference to their identification

Abstract

The wood anatomy of family Lauraceae was examined to evaluate the detailed anatomical characteristics among selected species of Cinnamomum, Litsea and Phoebe collected from the forests of Upper Assam, NE India. The present study showed that wood structure was homogeneous among genera. The common anatomical characteristics among genera seen were: diffuse porous wood, solitary vessels, intervessel pits alternate, scanty paratracheal parenchyma, presence of septate fibres, oil/mucilage cells, homocellular rays and heterocellular rays. Cinnamomum and Litsea species showed variation in anatomical characteristics. Among Cinnamomum species, growth rings were distinct in C. ceicidodaphne and C. zeylanicum, indistinct in C. tamala and C. bejolghota. Confluent parenchyma was present in C. bejolghota and C. zeylanicum. Aggregate rays were present only in C. ceicidodaphne whereas sheath cells were observed in C. bejolghota. Among Litsea species, indistinct growth ring boundaries, spiral thickenings in vessel elements, crystals in fibres, aggregate rays and sheath cells were distinct features of L. monopetala, scalariform perforation plates were present in both L. cubeba and L. salicifolia. However, L. cubeba could be differentiated from L. salicifolia in having perforated ray cells with scalariform perforation.