Wood microstructure and key for identification of selected willow (Salix) species from India and adjacent regions

Abstract

This paper deals with the wood microstructure of twenty-nine samples of the ten important species of genus Salix L., viz., Salix acmophylla Boiss., S. babylonica L., S. daphnoides Vill., S. denticulata Andersson., S. x fragilis L., S. oxycarpa Andersson., S. tetrasperma Roxb., S. viminalis L., S. disperma Roxb. ex D.Don, and S. sikkimensis Andersson from India and adjacent regions (i.e., Myanmar and Tibet). Internationally acclaimed standard laboratory procedure was followed in the preparation of permanent slides. The qualitative and quantitative wood anatomical characters were studied as per the International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA) terminology for hardwoods. Photomicrographs were taken for showing the diagnostic features of each taxon. The selected Salix species had some similar qualitative wood anatomical features along with differentiating characters based on which species can be distinguished from each other. In addition to qualitative anatomical features, quantitative anatomical features also showed significant differences among species. The main differentiating anatomical characters were druses, vessel-ray pits, ray seriation, shape/outline of solitary vessels and vessel frequency based on which identification key was prepared.