Wood Anatomy of Amanoa (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract

Wood anatomy of 29 specimens of seven species of Amanoa from tropieal Africa, South America, and the Caribbean is described. The wood is diffuse-porous with most vessels in short radial multiples. Vessel elements are notably long, have simple perforation plates and smalI, alternate intervessel pits; tyloses are present in heartwood. Libriform wood fibres bear thick walls. Axial parenchyma distribution is diffuse and diffuse-in-aggregates. Chambered crystalliferous axial parenchyma is common. Rays are heterocellular, narrow, and very tal!. The species examined, all from moist lowland forests, have similar wood structure. Wood of Amanoa resembles that of other primitive Euphorbiaceae.