Wood Anatomy of Four Myrtaceae Genera in the Subtribe Myrciinae from South America

Abstract

The wood anatomy of 31 species representing four genera of subtribe Myrciinae, Myrtaceae, Calyptranthes, Gomidesia, Marlierea and Myrcia is described. In general the wood of subtribe Myrciinae can be characterised by solitary vessels, simple perforations, alternate vestured pits, fibres with bordered and/or vestured pits (fibre-tracheids), parenchyma scanty paratracheal, diffuse and/or diffuse-in-aggregates forming complete or interrupted bands, and heterocellular rays with disjunctive cell walls. The four genera share all these features, but exhibit considerable variation in axial parenchyma patterns and crystal occurrence and distribution. No anatomical features serve to separate the genera, but some, e.g., helical thickenings and crystals, appear to be restricted to species in one genus or another.