Wood and Bark Anatomy of Degeneria

Abstract

Wood anatomy of the recently described Degeneria roseiflora differs from that of D. vitiensis by possessing narrower vessels, much thicker-walled vessels and fiber-tracheids. abundant uniseriate rays, and greater numbers of ethereal oil cells in rays. Because both large and smaller wood samples of D. vitiensis were studied, ontogenetic changes in the wood are presented and separated from those features that probably vary with the species. Tyloses and perforated ray cells are newly reported for Degeneria. Anatomy of mature bark of D. roseiflora is described. Wood anatomy of Degeneria is moderately primitive. Although Degeneria is often compared to Himantandraceae and Magnoliaceae, Eupoma-tiaceae also seem very close, if not closer.