Wood Microstructure of Indian Staphyleaceae with Particular Reference to Unusual Type of Perforated Ray Cell

Abstract

This paper describes the wood anatomy and presence of perforated ray cells in the family Staphyleaceae. The wood of this family is characterized by diffuse porosity, vessel with scalariform perforation plate, scanty paratracheal parenchyma, rays mainly multiseriate with perforated ray cell, non-septate fibers and presence of fibre tracheids. The perforated ray cells are larger than other ray cells with an unusual combination of reticulate and foraminate type of perforation plate.