Wood anatomy of Cipocereus (Cactaceae)

Abstract

The genus Cipocereus belongs to the subfamily Cactoideae, tribe Cereeae, and comprises five species: C. bradei, C. crassisepalus, C. laniflorus, C. minensis and C. pusilliflorus. Four of these species were studied. Their wood shows vessel elements with simple perforation plates; vessel pits scalariform, opposite, alternate to irregular, and bordered, half-bordered to simple; scanty paratracheal parenchyma; high and large rays; septate libriform fibres; axial and radial non-lignified-parenchyma. The differences between them are mostly with regard to quantitative features, such as vessel diameter and element length, and ray width and height.