Wood anatomy of the dicotyledons indigenous to new zealand 5. Verbenaceae

Abstract

Anatomical features of the secondary xylem of Vitex lucens Kirk and Teucridium parvifolium Hook.f. are described. The woods are diffuse-porous with a tendency towards being semi-ring-porous in T. parvifolium. Some narrow vessels in T. parvifolium cannot be distinguished in transverse section Erom the remaining axial elements. Vessels have simple perforations and spiral thickening. In V. lucens this thickening is extremely fine. Intervascular pits are randomly arranged, and are angular to round. Vessel-ray pits are similar to intervascular pits or are simple. In V. lucens axially to radially elongated pits with or without borders are also present. Vascular tracheids with spiral thickening are oceasionally present in T. parvifolium. Axial parenchyma is sparse to frequent. Fusiform parenchyma is sometimes present in T. parvifolium. Rays are heterogeneous, but homogeneous rays are also found in V. lucens. Rays are mainly 1–5 cells wide. Fibres have simple to almost simple pits. They are septate in V. lucens, but rarely so in T. parvifolium. An abnormality in a few vessels of T. parvifolium is regarded as tension wood. © 1974 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.