Anatomía de la madera de 25 especies de Malvaceae en Venezuela

Abstract

Wood anatomy for 25 species of Malvaceae family sensu APG from Venezuela and belongs to five subfamilies is presented: Bombacoideae (ten species), Byttnerioideae (three species), Grewioideae (nine species), Malvoideae (one specie) and Sterculioideae (two species). Wood slides for microscopic description was prepared using standard procedures in xylematic microtechnique and description was made according International Assosiation for Wood Anatomists. An identification key is presented separating 15 species (60% of studied material). Ten species can´t be separated and are included in groups with species from a same genus: one group with four species of Apeiba, one group with two species of Sterculia, one group with two species of Luehea and one group with two species from Byttneroideae subfamily (Herrania albiflora and Theobroma cacao). In relation to subfamilies, it´s not possible its separation according wood anatomy.We found some important features for identification like sheath cells, tile cells, crystals, silica, unlignified parenchyma and storied structure but its distribution not include all species from a same subfamily and were observed in species from different subfamilies.