Lazaro Benedito da Silva

Anatomia e densidade básica da madeira de Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul. (Fabaceae), espécie endêmica da caatinga do Nordeste do Brasil

This work aimed to study the anatomy and basic density of Caesalpinia pyramidalis wood, used by local populations in the municipalities of Serra Talhada and Sertânia (Pernambuco), to assess the percentage of wood elements in the trunk and branches in both localities, and in the tree itself, in order to establish total wood potential for energy production. Samples of the trunk (dbh) and of branches from six trees of the species were collected in 2002. Sample analysis followed the usual methods of wood anatomy studies. Based on the anatomical parameters of the trunk and the high basic density (>0.84 g/cm3), we conclude that Caesalpinia pyramidalis wood contains an enormous amount of cellulose and lignin. Due to these features, this species showed good perspectives for the production of alcohol and charcoal. The trunk and branches can be used for fuel even at the immature stage because of high fiber concentration, low vessel concentration and low amount of parenchyma at this stage in both municipalities.

SYSTEMATIC WOOD ANATOMY OF HUBERIA, MICONIA AND TIBOUCHINA (MELASTOMATACEAE)

The wood anatomy of Huberia consimilis, Miconia amoena, M. mirabilis, M. rimalis and Tibouchina francavillana (Melastomataceae) is described and compared with other species from the same genera. All taxa share vestured pits, absent or inconspicuous growth rings, septate fibres, parenchyma-like tangential bands, and fibres shorter than 900 μm which is characteristic of the family Melastomataceae. Each species exhibited a set of wood anatomical characteristics that enabled its identification. Some traits were more relevant in distinguishing genera, such as composition of parenchyma-like tangential bands, vessel-ray pits, ray width, rays per millimetre and fibre length. Parenchyma-like tangential bands are described in great detail, and we propose a more specific nomenclature for their anatomical classification.