Anatomía de la Madera en 35 Especies de Lauraceae Juss. de Venezuela

Abstract

Wood anatomy of 35 species of Lauraceae family, growing in Venezuela is presented. Species studied belongs to eight genera (Aniba, Beilschmiedia, Cinnamomum, Licaria, Nectandra, Ocotea, Persea, Pleurothyrium). Wood samples were prepared using standars procedures of xylematic microtechnique. Descriptions were made according to International Association of Wood Anatomists. Diagnostic features in the family are presence of oil cells, septate fibers, large intervessel pits, vessel-ray pitting with reduced borders to apparently simple and differ to intervessel pits in size and shape. A dichotomous identification key is presented for genera and species in each genus with two or more species studied (Aniba, Beilschmiedia, Nectandra, Ocotea). Species studied can be separated in two groups according the presence (Aniba, Beilschmiedia, Cinnamomum) or the absence (Beilschmiedia, Licaria, Nectandra, Ocotea, Persea, Pleurothyrium) of marginal parenchyma. In each group, can be made separations using features like septate fibers, perforation plates, oil cells and quantitative features.