Comparison of anatomical features in the three Syzygium species

Abstract

This study was conducted to provide foundational anatomical information of three infrequently used wood species growing in tropical areas. Three species of the genus Syzygium, namely the clove tree, kupa, and spicate eugenia, were selected. The representative anatomical features of these species were classified using the International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA) anatomical feature list. The representative anatomical features of the clove tree included the distribution of small vessels with tangential diameters of approximately 60 µm in cross-surface, a dense spacing of vessels, the axial parenchyma in narrow bands or lines up to three cells wide, and the body ray cells procumbent with over four rows of upright and/or square marginal cells. The kupa showed axial parenchyma confluent and the body ray cells were procumbent with over four rows of upright and/or square marginal cells. In the spicate eugenia, the axial parenchyma was diffused in aggregate with exclusively uniseriate rays and the body ray cells were procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells. These three species were easily identified by optical microscopy via the anatomical features of the woods.