Wood anatomy of podocarpaceae indigenous to New Zealand

Abstract

Summary Anatomical features of the secondary xylem of seven species of Dacrydium indigenous to New Zealand are described. An identification key based on the microscopic structure of these woods has been developed. Cross‐field pitting is the best feature for specific identification. Axial parenchyma is absent from all the species except D. cupressinum , in which it is abundant. The occurrence of fine spiral thickening and callitrisoid thickening in the tracheids of D. cupressinum is recorded. The structure of cross‐field pits appears to depend on the position in the length of the tracheid crossed by the ray parenchyma.