WOOD AXIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF 32-YEAR-OLD Croton piptocalyx Müll. Arg. EUPHORBIACEAE

Abstract

This paper aims to characterize the wood anatomy of Croton piptocalyx. To carry out an investigation of axial variation, discussing it in a functional context, helping to increase knowledge about the species. Five randomly selected 32-year-old trees were felled at the Luiz Antonio Experimental Station, located in Luiz Antonio City, São Paulo state, Brazil. From stems, discs were cut from six different stem heights (stem base, 1 m, 2 m, 3 m, 4 m, and 5 m). For each disc, samples close to the bark were removed for wood anatomy studies and specific gravity calculation. Wood anatomy of C. piptocalyx generally agrees with that of other species of the genus as described in the literature. However, variation in both quantitative and qualitative data could be related to tree age and species differences. Axial variations found in vessel element length, vessel diameter and ray height can be respectively related to the hypothesized Typical Radial Pattern based on the occurrence of shorter and narrower cells in younger parts of the wood, involving vessel element length and diameter, and mechanical requirement in the case of higher rays at the trunk base.

Longitudinal variation of wood basic density and anatomy of Curatella americana L

“…However, in 24-year-old Handroanthus vellosoi trees, it was found that the diameter of the vessels is smaller at the base of the tree, and greater at the heights of 1 and 2 m according to Longui et al (2017). Since the presence of narrower vessels at the base of the tree may be an indication of better efficiency in water transport due to pressure differences along the vessel elements (Assad et al, 2016) In this study, we also carried out correlations between basic density and anatomical features. We found that most important relationships were basic density with fiber wall thickness, fiber length and vessel frequency.…”

Wood Properties of 38-year-old Cariniana legalis (Mart.) Kuntze Based on Planting Spacing

“…The authors also found an inverse relationship between hydraulic conductivity and mechanical resistance. The presence of narrower vessels at the stem base, acting as a bottleneck, is a pattern observed in several species, with the purpose of increasing water transport by pressure differences along the vessel elements, thus improving their hydraulic efficiency (Assad et al, 2016) and/or meeting the mechanical demands concerning tree support (Sette Jr. et al, 2012;Longui et al, 2017). A decrease in vessel diameter tends to form denser wood, with greater mechanical resistance, since vessel lumens represent empty spaces that can weaken the wood in terms of its mechanical properties (Baas et al, 2004).…”

“…In adult trees, cambium located at trunk base will produce wood with a characteristic typical of the age, while recently formed cambium located at the tree top will produce juvenile wood (Zobel & Sprague, 1998). The variations in cellular dimensions found along the tree trunk may be related to the typical radial pattern, where shorter and narrower cells occur in parts with younger wood (Assad et al, 2016).…”