Anatomical investigation of wood from two old bridges as part of the historical record of the flora of the Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Summary The anatomical study of wood used in Brazilian heritage, in association with other areas of knowledge, has provided important information about the cultural and social aspects of past generations and the composition and use of the flora of different regions. Our goal was to identify the wood used in the construction of two old bridges for the transport of people and cargo between Vila Dois Rios and Praia da Parnaioca, Ilha Grande, Angra dos Reis, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Anatomical features of the sampled woods were used for taxonomic identification by multiple-entry key for wood identification, followed by comparisons with anatomical descriptions of wood samples from xylarium, the literature, and databases. The search for information considered the common and/or scientific names of taxa attributed to the woods from the bridges, and whose natural occurrence is registered for Ilha Grande and/or the state of Rio de Janeiro. The results showed that the bridges were built with the wood of Zollernia ilicifolia (Brongn.) Vogel and Handroanthus sp. Mattos. Knowing that the site had labor, infrastructure, and raw materials during the period when the bridges were built, the results reveal aspects of the composition of the current and past flora of Ilha Grande.