Wood Microstructural Study of Selected Exotic Tree Species of Forest Research Institute, Dehradun

Abstract

The wood microstructure of exotic hardwood tree species planted in Forest Research Institute, Dehradun campus has been described. The objective of the present study is to analyze the differences in wood microstructure between the tree species from their native place and plantations. To study the wood microstructure, branch wood samples were collected and processed as per the standard laboratory procedures. The wood anatomical features were described as per the IAWA (International Association of Wood Anatomists) terminology of hardwood identification. The results indicated that wood qualitative microstructure did not vary when compared with the previous work done on these species supporting the fact that wood anatomy is conservative. However, some quantitative parameters of vessel, fibre and ray differed in most of the selected hardwood species. Tyloses and gum deposits were found to be absent in the branch samples of the species. These findings are attributed to the wood sample selection from branches and the change in environmental conditions.