Wood and Bark Anatomy of Lauraceae IV. Dahlgrenodendron J.J.M. Van Der Merwe ' Van Wyk

Abstract

The southem African tree, Dahlgrenodendron natalense , previously ascribed to the genus Beilschmiedia was recently segregated as a monotypic genus, Dahlgrenodendron , on account of its distinctive exomorphology, palynology and fruit structure. Dahlgrenodendron differs from Beilschmiedia in nearly all quantitative and qualitative features of wood and bark anatomy. The overall structural pattern of these tissues does not support the initial assignment of Dahlgrenodendron to the tribe Cryptocaryeae, nor does it fit any other lauraceous taxon. Within Lauraceae, an isolated non-aligned status is provisionally proposed for the genus.