Wood anatomy of Lithraea ternifolia (Gill.) Barkley & Rom. (Anacardiaceae)

Abstract

A description of the wood structure of Lithraea ternifolia (Gill.) Barkley & Rom. (Anacardiaceae) is given. It is diffuse-porous, with pores solitary, in multiples, clusters and in chains, and small vessels with simple perforation plates. The rays are uni- and multiseriate, heterogeneous. It has paratracheal axial parenchyma and libriform fibres. Disjunctive cells and crystalliferous strands are present. The hydraulic tissue seems well adapted to prolonged dry periods. One growth ring is generally formed each year. Moreover, other types of growth layers are delineated: intra-annual, lens-, half-lens-, and arcshaped.