Anatomy of the wood and charcoal of Anadenanthera colubrina var. colubrina (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae)

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to carry out an anatomical description of the secondary xylem and charcoal of Anadenanthera colubrina var. colubrina (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae). This taxon mainly inhabits seasonally dry forests and it is a tree that has been part of the economic, medicinal, and spiritual development in South America. The samples were collected in Parque Urquiza, Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentina. The wood was sectioned using a manual rotary microtome and the charcoals were obtained using a muffle at 400 °C for 40 minutes. A detailed description of the wood and charcoal of Anadenanthera colubrina var. colubrina, based on light microscopic and scanning electron microscopic observation, is presented. The results indicate the following diagnostic features: growth rings slightly distinct, diffuse-porous wood; mostly solitary vessels, rare in radial multiples of 2-4 elements and in clusters, simple perforation plates, intervessel pits alternate and vestured; axial parenchyma paratracheal, vasicentric and confluent, prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells, rays 1-4 seriate, homocellular composed exclusively of procumbent cells. These detailed descriptions will facilitate the identification of Anadenanthera colubrina in archaeological and paleontological contexts.