Wood and bark anatomy of Takhtajania (Winteraceae);: Phylogenetic and ecological implications

Wood and bark anatomy of Takhtajania are newly reported on the basis of woody stems to 4.5 cm in diameter, a woody root 4 cm in diameter, and a smaller stem with only a little secondary growth. The wood lacks growth rings and is vesselless. Tracheids bear biseriate or triseriate circular pits or scalariform pits on end walls and sparse circular pits on side walls. Warts and helical thickenings are lacking on the inner surfaces of tracheids. Axial parenchyma is very sparse. Multiseriate and uniseriate rays are about equally abundant, and both are composed of upright cells except for a small number of procumbent cells in multiseriate rays. Ethereal oil cells and sclereids are absent in rays. Bark contains sclereid nests and ethereal oil cells. Wood features closely match those of Tasmannia or Drimys, in agreement with conclusions reached on the basis of molecular data. Comparative data on bark of Winteraceae other than Takhtajania are lacking. Wood features of Takhtajania agree with those of subtropical species by lacking features found in temperate Winteraceae (growth rings,warted tracheid surfaces, helical thickenings in tracheids).