Wood anatomy of the dicotyledons indigenous to New Zealand

Abstract

Anatomy of the secondary xylem of Quintinia acutifotla Kirk, Q. serrata A. Cunn., Ixerba bréxioides A. Cunn., and Carpodetus serratus J.R. et G. Forst. is described. These woods are diffuse-porous with distinct to indistinct growth rings. The vessels are mostly solitary, angular, and have exclusively scalariform perforation plates with approximately 20 to 140 bars. Intervascular pits when present are opposite and scalariform. Fine spiral thickening is present in vessels and fibrc-tracheids of C. serratus. In all the indigenous species the vessel pits to rays are bordered, round and radially elongated. Axial parenchyma which is moderately frequent is diffuse, diffuse-in-aggrcgates, scanty paratrachcal, and rarely vasicentne. Rays are mostly heterogeneous type II. Uniscriate rays arc more numerous than the multiseriatcs. In C. serratus rhomboidal crystals arc present in the ray parenchyma. The fibrous tissue in all the species is composed of non-septate fibre-tracheids. Anatomical differences between species are described. Taxonomic status of Ixerba, Carpodetus, and Corokia is discussed.