Wood anatomy of two species of Eugenia (Myrtaceae) from Quintana Roo, Mexico

Abstract

The Myrtaceae family in Mexico is represented by twelve genera widely distributed in temperate, tropical and semiarid regions. The family has economic importance due mainly to the extraction of wood (from Eucalyptus spp.), of fruit for human use (Psidium spp.) and to the practice of apiculture (in Eugenia spp.), among other uses. Several genera representing the family have been recorded in Quintana Roo, among which Eugenia, with several species, is well represented in the tropical rainforest. Wood of this genus has important local uses: poles and pillars used in the construction of rural houses, it has also been used to build railroad (sleepers). Valuable melifer species have also been found. Its wood structure has been poorly studied; therefore this paper describes the anatomy of Eugenia capuli (Schlecht. & Cham.) Berg. and of Eugenia mayana Standley, wich were collected in the common land (ejido) Cafetal Limones, Quintana Roo. The anatomical descriptions, have produced esthetic, macroscopic and microscopic studies using the three typical cuts and dissociated material. A statistical analysis was done using the measurable characters which were determined based on the value of the mean. Botanical data was included in each description. In both species, the wood is light brown, with diffuse-porous and the vessels have simple perforation plates; the axial parenchyma comes in stripes and it is diffused; rays are heterogeneous type I, II, III and libriform fibres. E. mayana is different from E. capuli in that it has axial parenchyma vasicentric, triseriate rays and its fibres have gums.