The anatomical characteristics in the culms of the four promising Indonesian bamboo species, including Dendrocalamus asper, Dendrocalamus giganteus, Bambusa vulgaris var. vulgaris, and Bambusa vulgaris var. striata, were investigated to produce an identification key and quality indices for further effective utilization. The crystalline properties of the bamboo culm were determined using X-ray diffraction analysis. Dendrocalamus asper and Bambusa vulgaris var. striata showed vascular bundle type IV, while Dendrocalamus giganteus and Bambusa vulgaris var. vulgaris displayed vascular bundle type III. The vascular bundle density in the bamboo culms increased from the bottom to the top part and was higher in the outer part than in the inner part. The fiber portion and length in the outer part were higher than those in the inner part, opposite of those in the parenchyma portion. Dendrocalamus giganteus had the largest vessel and parenchyma diameter, while Bambusa vulgaris var. vulgaris had the smallest. Bambusa vulgaris var. vulgaris had the longest parenchyma, while Bambusa vulgaris var. striata and Dendrocalamus giganteus had the shortest. The outer part of the four bamboo culms showed higher relative crystallinity than the inner part. All anatomical parameters, except for crystallite width, showed a variation in the radial direction of the four bamboo culms but did not show a consistent tendency vertically. This study revealed that the anatomical properties were different between bamboo species and could be used for species identification and quality evaluation indices of the culms.

Muna teakwood, especially from old stands, has been popular as raw material for timber industries in Indonesia for the past ten decades. Due to the scarcity of this wood, superior-grown seedlings of Muna teakwood have been developed and widely planted. Since there is no information on its characteristics, therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate wood characteristics of the 8-year-old superior-grown teak from Muna Island to ensure their proper utilization as raw material for wooden furniture. Wood discs and boards from basal area of three different trees were used as the samples. Macroscopic and microscopic anatomical characteristics were observed following the IAWA's list, while their physicalmechanical properties were measured following British Standard 373-57. Results showed that anatomical characteristics of this wood sample are similar to regular teakwood, but its heartwood portion is higher. Differences among trees are found in regards to wood texture, growth ring width, as well as early and latewood portion. The green moisture content was lower than that of fast-growing teak of a similar age. The wood is more stable than the old teakwood, but its specific gravity is lower. In general, mechanical properties of this wood were higher than those of the regular fast-growing teakwood, but lower than the old one. Based on its specific gravity, this superior Muna teakwood was categorized as a Strength Class of III. The wood is suitable enough for wooden furniture manufacturing.

This study aimed to investigate and compare the qualitative and quantitative anatomical characteristics of Acacia mangium and Acacia hybrid in plantation forests in Vietnam. The qualitative and quantitative anatomical characteristics were evaluated according to the International Association of Wood Anatomists list of microscopic features for hardwood identification. In terms of qualitative features, A. mangium had a rough, hard, and fissured bark surface with a golden brown to dark brown color, whereas A. hybrid had a smooth and slightly scaly bark surface with greenish brown to greyish brown color, and yellowish white to pale white spots. Moreover, the heartwood–sapwood color and microscopic features of both species were identical. In terms of quantitative features, A. mangium had higher values in the tangential diameter of vessel lumina, vessel per square millimeter, ray number per millimeter, fiber length, and fiber wall thickness than A. hybrid, whereas A. hybrid had a higher ray height and lumen diameter than A. mangium. Thus, it is suggested that bark morphology and some quantitative anatomical characteristics can be used for identification and evaluation of wood quality between A. mangium and A. hybrid growing in Vietnam.

This study investigated the anatomical and non-anatomical characteristics of six wood species, Acacia mangium, Acacia hybrid, Dillenia pentagyna, Anacardium occidentale, Hevea brasiliensis, and Melaleuca cajuputi, from a plantation in Vietnam. The anatomical characteristics and non-anatomical characteristics were observed following the International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA) list. All species showed diffuse porosity and non-septate fibers. Exclusively solitary vessels were only observed in M. cajuputi. Vestured pits were observed in A. mangium, A. hybrid, and M. cajuputi, and tyloses were found in A. occidentale and H. brasiliensis. We observed vasicentric axial parenchyma in A. mangium, A. hybrid, A. occidentale, and H. brasiliensis, whereas diffuse axial parenchyma was observed in D. pentagyna and M. cajuputi. Further, prismatic crystals in the axial parenchyma cells existed in A. mangium, A. hybrid, and H. brasiliensis, and raphides in ray cells were observed in D. pentagyna. Silica bodies in ray cells were found in A. occidentale and M. cajuputi. H. brasiliensis exhibited the greatest vessel diameter and ray height, with D. pentagyna exhibiting the greatest fiber length and wall thickness. All the species showed considerable differences in heartwood fluorescence, water and ethanol extract colors, and froth test reactions.

The anatomical characteristics of the culms and culm bases of ssanggol- and min-bamboo, which are mutated species of Phyllostachys bambusoides, were investigated using optical microscopy to understand the material properties. The vascular bundles in the culms and culm bases of both species were type I. There were a few abnormal vascular bundles in the culm base of ssanggol-bamboo, and more developed fiber bundles in the inner part of min-bamboo. A wavy surface was observed in the pith cavity of the ssanggol-bamboo culms. In the inner part, the vascular bundles of min-bamboo culms showed a regular diagonal arrangement, whereas those of ssanggol-bamboo were distributed randomly. In the culm base, ssanggol-bamboo had a significantly higher proportion of parenchyma and vessels, whereas min-bamboo had a higher fiber proportion. Both species had comparable proportions of cells in their culms. The vascular bundle density of min-bamboo was significantly higher than that of ssanggol-bamboo, whereas ssanggol-bamboo showed a significantly larger vessel diameter than min-bamboo. Ssanggol-bamboo had a shorter parenchyma cell length and larger parenchyma cell width than min-bamboo, whereas the min-bamboo culm showed a longer fiber length than that of ssanggol-bamboo. Furthermore, in the culm base, the fibers of ssanggol-bamboo were longer.