(Wall.) Hurusawa*
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lAW A Bulletin n.s., Vol. 2 (4), 1981 201 OCCURRENCE OF PERFORATED RAY CELLS IN THE WOOD OF DRYPETES ROXBURGHII (WALL.) HURUSAWA* by Nazma**, B. Sundarsivarao and R. Vijendrarao,*** Andhra University, Waltair, India Summary Anatomical features of the wood of Drypetes ed micropreparations of transverse, radiallongi roxburghii (Wall.) Hurusawa, Euphorbiaceae tudinal and tangential longitudinal sections of are described in detail. Occurrence of ray cells 20/lm were prepared from the wood according with scalariform perforations is reported for to conventional methods. Measurements of cell the first time in this taxon. This study supports lengths were carried out from macerated mate the inclusion of Drypetes in the Aporosa type rial (Schultze's method) with the help of a cali of the Phyllanthoideae, Le., in accordance with brated ocular micrometer. Mean value of fifty the classification of the genera of Euphorbia measurements for each quantitative character ceae on anatomical grounds by Metcalfe and along with the most frequent range (mfr) is Chalk (1950). Inclusion of this species by given. Diagnostic characters and terminologies Hurusawa (1954) and Webster (1967) in Dry employed in describing the wood are in accor petes, is also supported. dance with Chalk and Chattaway (1933, 1934), Kribs (1935, 1937), Tippo (1945), Metcalfe Introduction and Chalk (1950) and the IAWA Committee on Euphorbiaceae constitute one of the inter Nomenclature (1964). esting and intriguing families in view of their diverse anatomical structure (Metcalfe & Chalk, Observations 1950; Stem, 1967; Hayden, 1977). The family, Wood diffuse-porous with fairly distinct represented by 300 genera and 7000 species growth rings. (Webster, 1967; Hans, 1973), is cosmopolitan Vessels per mm2 moderately numerous to in its distribution and includes herbs, shrubs numerous (mean 23, mfr 14-33), mostly in and trees. Largely due to extreme variations in radial multiples of 2-8, some forming pore their ex om orphic features, classification of chains, rarely in aggregates and a few solitary Euphorbiaceae into the lower taxonomic hier (Fig. I). Pores oval to circular and with small archies has received considerable attention by mean tangential diameter (47 /lm, mfr 39- 55 those approaching the family in different bota /lm); walls of the vessels thick (mean 7 /lm); nical pursuits. Relevant literature on the wood perforations scalariform, with bars ranging anatomy of this family (Solereder, 1908; from 5-20; intervascular pits small, abundant, Metcalfe & Chalk, 1950; Stern, 1967 ; Hayden, alternate, angular with oval to elongate pit 1977) shows the range of structural complexity apertures (Fig. 2); some of the pit apertures varying from very primitive to highly evolved. show coalescence; vessel-ray pitting similar to In the present study a detailed account of ana that of intervascular pitting; vessel elements tomical features of Drypetes roxburghii is given, medium in length (mean 0.832 mm, mfr emphasising some characters hitherto not re 0.616-1.056 mm), eligulate and empty. ported. The systematic position of this genus is Axial parenchyma both apotracheal and also discussed in the light of the above. paratracheal; the former diffuse, diffuse-in aggregates (tangentially 2-3 or sometimes Material and Methods more cells wide); the latter scanty-vasicentric Material of Drypetes roxburghii (Wall.) Hu to vasicentric with a single layer of cells sur rusawa was collected from the botanical garden rounding the vessels; strands of 4-20 cells with of Andhra University, Waltair. Permanent stain- starch. * Part of the Ph.D. thesis submitted by the senior author to Andhra University, Waltair, India. ** Present address: Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Trichur 680653, Kerala India. *** Present address: Forest Research Institute, New Forest, Dehra Dun, U.P. 248 006, India. 202 IAWA Bulletin n.s., Vol. 2 (4),1981 Fig. 1-4. Drypetes roxburghii (Wall.) Hurusawa. - I: Transverse section, x 190. - 2: Tangential section, x 230. - 3: Tangential section, x 570, showing perforated ray cell. - 4: Radial section, x 230. - p: perforated ray cell, pp : perforations in the ray cell, v: vessel element, r: ray, sp: scalari form perforation. .