New dicotyledonous woods from the San Carlos Formation (Upper Cretaceous) in Northern Mexico

We describe two new fossil woods from the San Carlos Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Chihuahua State, Mexico. The first wood resembles the fossil genus Metcalfeoxylon in having solitary vessels, scalariform perforation plates, vessel-ray parenchyma pits of similar size as the intervessel pits, axial parenchyma apotracheal diffuse and diffuse in aggregates, and heterocellular multiseriate rays with long, uniseriate tails. The second wood is a new fossil genus, and it is characterized by having diffuse porous wood, vessels predominantly solitary, vessel outlines oval and tending to be of two diameter classes, simple perforation plates, minute alternate intervessel pits, vessel-ray parenchyma pits similar to intervessel pits in size and shape, vasicentric tracheids, non-septate fibers, homocellular rays, and exclusively uniseriate and biseriate rays. This combination of features supports its placement in Myrtales (?Myrtaceae), in a new fossil-genus named Lazarocardenasoxylon. These two new records provide more information about the floristic composition of the Late Cretaceous flora of the San Carlos Formation and its relationship with those from the southern USA. However, a definitive picture of the floristic relationship of these Cretaceous floras of northern Mexico and southern USA remains elusive.

Wood micro-morphological characteristics of the Tribe Dalbergieae in Nigeria

The present study examined the wood micro-characters of 18 species of the tribe Dalbergieae across 4 genera in Nigeria, following previously described methods by other authors. The species are distributed across all geo-ecological zones of the country but more abundant in the southern area which is characterized by higher precipitation. Findings clearly showed that members of the tribe Dalbergieae have more generic/tribal characteristics than delimiting characters. The species have certain unifying characters such as diffuse pore porosity, simple perforation plates, oblique to orthogonal vessel transverse wall inclination, prismatic/styloid crystals, and non-septate fibres. Vessels were longest and widest in D. saxatilis, about 197.89x104.23µm. On the contrary, the shortest was observed in D. hostilis - 67.62 µm while the narrowest was in D. oligophylla (28.4 µm). While fibre length was highest in P. mildbraedii (331.22 µm±7.5) and smallest in D. saxatilis (0.69 µm±0.0), the ray cells were longest in D. saxatilis (185µm) and shortest in P. santalinoides (41.82µm) respectively. We confirm here that anatomical studies should not be neglected in plant systematics, even though molecular approaches have been the focus in recent times.

Wood Anatomy of Argophyllaceae (Asterales): Adaptation in a Small Clade

Argophyllaceae (Argophyllum, 14 spp.; Corokia, 6 spp.; Lautea, 1 sp.), are shrubs that occur in the southwestern Pacific and eastern Australia. They occur in habitats where moisture is relatively common but dry days and mild frost may occur. The woods of these genera show enough distinctive features to justify their grouping in a single family: perforation plates with 10–20 bars, vessel elements narrow and numerous per mm2, imperforate tracheary elements about 50% longer than the vessel elements, axial parenchyma scarce, diffuse, multiseriate rays narrow and heterocellular (upright cells common in uniseriate rays), crystals absent, gum deposits common. These features group the genera of Argophyllaceae more closely with each other than with the nearest families in Asterales (Alseuosmiaceae, Phellinaceae). Probable apomorphies of the genera include helical thickenings in vessels and tracheids, together with abundant tracheids and rare septate fiber-tracheids (Corokia); almost total absence of axial parenchyma and tracheids combined with maximal abundance of septate fiber-tracheids and no helical thickenings (Argophyllum, Lautea). Lautea, formerly included within Corokia, has floral and foliar distinctions and is endemic to a single island, Rapa Iti. Woods of Argophyllaceae are alike in their ecological adaptations (perforation plates, vessel diameter and density) but the presence of tracheids and helical thickenings in Corokia suggest adaptations to frost and mild drought. As expected, vessels group more prominently in the tracheid-free species (Argophyllum, Lautea) but very little in the tracheid-rich genus Corokia.

Forestry control in the Brazilian Amazon II: charcoal anatomy of 21 species

The production of illegal charcoal, associated with other local human practices, is responsible for the degradation of native forests, especially in the Brazilian Amazon. The need for market control and charcoal production is accompanied by the lack of comparative charcoal materials from the Amazon. Here, we describe charcoal samples of 21 Brazilian species and provide SEM images that can facilitate the charcoal identification. It is possible to distinguish the species on the basis of anatomy. Features such as vessel groupings, vessel–ray pitting, perforation plates, axial parenchyma, ray cellular composition, storied structure and secretory elements were chosen as primary diagnostic features for the identification of species. We highlight vessel groupings, axial parenchyma type and in some cases even perforation plates, which were easily observed in low magnification SEM images and can assist in the supervision by government agents. From our descriptions, evaluations and photomicrographs, it will be possible to compare charcoal from commercial species from the Amazon.

WOOD ANATOMICAL STUDIES REVEAL TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS, ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE AND PULP POTENTIAL IN FOUR TAXA OF Mussaenda (RUBIACEAE) GROWN IN NIGERIA

Current study was carried out to assess the taxonomic, ecological significance, and paper making potential of four taxa of Mussaenda L. (Rubiaceae) viz., M. elegans, M. erythrophylla, M. philippica var. aurorae, and M. ‘Dona Aurora’ through wood anatomical studies. Each of the taxa was collected from its natural region of provenance in two different ecological zones (Derived Savanna and Tropical Rainforest) of Nigeria. Observations from different planes of sections were made and wood maceration was carried out for fibre morphology. Absent to scanty paratracheal axial parenchyma, septate fibres, pitted vessels, storied heterocellular rays, and simple perforation plates were common features in all taxa. However, multiseriate and wider rays distinguished the exotic species from the indigenous species, and the semi-diffuse porous wood pattern was a unique feature in M. ‘Dona Aurora’. Quantitative data showed considerable variations in case of fibre lengths among the four taxa i.e. M. elegans, M. erythrophylla, M. philippica var. aurorae, and M. ‘Dona Aurora’ and was recorded 0.80 ± 0.02 µm, 0.70 ± 0.05 µm, 0.65 ± 0.03 µm and 0.64 ± 0.04 µm respectively. These observations showed that all species belong to Wood Type II of Rubiaceae and support their inclusion in the Tribe Mussaendeae and Order Ixoroideae. The influence of environmental factors was evident in the significant elongation of wood vessels of samples collected from more humid areas, but with no significant effect on their paper-making potential. More so, M. “Doña Aurora”, had general scores, would be most suitable for pulp and paper making.

WOOD ANATOMICAL STUDIES REVEAL TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS, ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE AND PULP POTENTIAL IN FOUR TAXA OF Mussaenda (RUBIACEAE) GROWN IN NIGERIA

Current study was carried out to assess the taxonomic, ecological significance, and paper making potential of four taxa of Mussaenda L. (Rubiaceae) viz., M. elegans, M. erythrophylla, M. philippica var. aurorae, and M. ‘Dona Aurora’ through wood anatomical studies. Each of the taxa was collected from its natural region of provenance in two different ecological zones (Derived Savanna and Tropical Rainforest) of Nigeria. Observations from different planes of sections were made and wood maceration was carried out for fibre morphology. Absent to scanty paratracheal axial parenchyma, septate fibres, pitted vessels, storied heterocellular rays, and simple perforation plates were common features in all taxa. However, multiseriate and wider rays distinguished the exotic species from the indigenous species, and the semi-diffuse porous wood pattern was a unique feature in M. ‘Dona Aurora’. Quantitative data showed considerable variations in case of fibre lengths among the four taxa i.e. M. elegans, M. erythrophylla, M. philippica var. aurorae, and M. ‘Dona Aurora’ and was recorded 0.80 ± 0.02 µm, 0.70 ± 0.05 µm, 0.65 ± 0.03 µm and 0.64 ± 0.04 µm respectively. These observations showed that all species belong to Wood Type II of Rubiaceae and support their inclusion in the Tribe Mussaendeae and Order Ixoroideae. The influence of environmental factors was evident in the significant elongation of wood vessels of samples collected from more humid areas, but with no significant effect on their paper-making potential. More so, M. “Doña Aurora”, had general scores, would be most suitable for pulp and paper making.

WOOD ANATOMICAL STUDIES REVEAL TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS, ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE AND PULP POTENTIAL IN FOUR TAXA OF Mussaenda (RUBIACEAE) GROWN IN NIGERIA

Current study was carried out to assess the taxonomic, ecological significance, and paper making potential of four taxa of Mussaenda L. (Rubiaceae) viz., M. elegans, M. erythrophylla, M. philippica var. aurorae, and M. ‘Dona Aurora’ through wood anatomical studies. Each of the taxa was collected from its natural region of provenance in two different ecological zones (Derived Savanna and Tropical Rainforest) of Nigeria. Observations from different planes of sections were made and wood maceration was carried out for fibre morphology. Absent to scanty paratracheal axial parenchyma, septate fibres, pitted vessels, storied heterocellular rays, and simple perforation plates were common features in all taxa. However, multiseriate and wider rays distinguished the exotic species from the indigenous species, and the semi-diffuse porous wood pattern was a unique feature in M. ‘Dona Aurora’. Quantitative data showed considerable variations in case of fibre lengths among the four taxa i.e. M. elegans, M. erythrophylla, M. philippica var. aurorae, and M. ‘Dona Aurora’ and was recorded 0.80 ± 0.02 µm, 0.70 ± 0.05 µm, 0.65 ± 0.03 µm and 0.64 ± 0.04 µm respectively. These observations showed that all species belong to Wood Type II of Rubiaceae and support their inclusion in the Tribe Mussaendeae and Order Ixoroideae. The influence of environmental factors was evident in the significant elongation of wood vessels of samples collected from more humid areas, but with no significant effect on their paper-making potential. More so, M. “Doña Aurora”, had general scores, would be most suitable for pulp and paper making.

Wood and bark anatomy of South African Picrodendraceae with systematic and ecological implications

Wood and bark structure of Androstachys johnsonii and Hyaenanche globosa (Picrodendraceae) is described. Two species share simple perforation plates, minute to small intervessel pits, and nonseptate fibres; these traits also reported in other Picrodendraceae. Androstachys is distinctive in having scanty paratracheal axial parenchyma and uniseriate rays with vessel-ray pits restricted to marginal cells. Bordered pits on fibre walls is an ancestral condition for the African Picrodendraceae. High vessel frequency and vessel grouping in Androstachys can be adaptive for semi-arid climate with wet summer. Both genera share the subepidermal phellogen initiation and the presence of thick-walled fibers and sclereids in secondary phloem. In Hyaenanche, the bark is dilated by stretching and divisions of parenchyma cells with formation of pseudocortex. Androstachys shows no ray dilatation, but sclerification of its parenchyma can make substantial contribution in bark expansion. Abundant trichomes on epidermis of young shoots of Androstachys are presumably involved in the water uptake from mists.

Diversidad anatómica de cinco biotipos de la especie Theobroma cacao(cacao) en la región sur de Ecuador

Agrobiodiversity includes variability at the specific and genetic level, its dynamics and relationships between cultivated plants and their wild relatives. The Theo b ro m a c a c aoL. species has a high cultural and economic value inEcuador because it helps around 100,000 rural families. However, the structure of its wood and the variability of microscopic characteristics between its biotypes is unknown. For this reason, this study seeks to fill th is gap with an anatomical analysis of the wood in its three planes (transverse, tangentia l, a n d radial) according to IAWA regulations in five biotypes of T. cocoa (aromático, criollo, forastero, trinitario y CCN51) from the Piuntza and Guayzimi sectors of the province of Zamora Chinchipe. Itwas found that all biotypes presented simple perforation plates, alternating polygonal pits, diffuse axial parenchyma, multiseriate and uniseriate ra y s , ra y s with procumbent cells of 2-4 rows of vertical and / or marginal square cells,h ow e ve r, th e prismatic crystals, drusen, envelope cells, and perforated radial cells were variable. At a quantitative level, the highest radii were found mainly in the creole and fore ign b io ty pe s , while the CCN51 and trinitariobiotypes obtained higher values in vessels per square millimeter. With this, it was shown that all the individuals analyzed, despite being of the same species, had anatomical differences, which shows that the microscopic study of woo d is a very useful tool for the identification of biotypes within a species.Keywords:Wood anatomy, cacao, biotype, IAWA, agrobiodiversity

Using Lenses Attached to a Smartphone as a Macroscopic Early Warning Tool in the Illegal Timber Trade, in Particular for CITES-Listed Species

Wood anatomy is a key discipline as a tool for monitoring the global timber trade, particularly for wood listed in protected species conventions such as Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). One of the main barriers to reducing illegal trafficking of protected species is ensuring that customs officials with appropriate training in wood anatomy are equipped with simple tools, at both the origin and destination of shipments, so they can raise an early warning about wood suspected of contravening international treaties and immediately send samples to a specialised laboratory. This work explains how lenses attached to a smartphone, capable of achieving up to 400× magnification using the phone digital zoom, can be used to distinguish features that are not visible with traditional 10× or 12× lenses, enhancing the capacity to view features not typically observable in the field. In softwoods, for example, this method permits determination of the type of axial parenchyma arrangement, whether there are helical thickenings in axial tracheids and whether axial tracheids have organic deposits or contain alternate polygonal pits, and in the rays, if the tracheids are smooth-walled or dentate and if the cross-field pits are window-like. In hardwoods, it allows verification of the presence of tyloses and deposits in vessels, the type of perforation plates and whether the intervascular pitting is scalariform; in the rays it is possible to differentiate the types of ray cells; and in the axial parenchyma, to determine the presence of oil cells. In addition, unlike macroscopic analysis with a conventional magnifying lens, this type of lens can be used with the appropriate mobile application for the biometry of important elements such as ray height and vessel diameter.