The Systematic Wood Anatomy Of The Moraceae (Urticales) IV. Genera of the Tribe Moreae With Urticaceous Stamens

Abstract

The wood anatomy of the genera of the tribe Moreae with urticaceous stamens, viz. Broussonetia, Maclura s.l. (inc1uding Cardiogyne, Chlorophora, and Cudrania), Malaisia, Milicia, Morus, Olmedia, Pachytrophe, Plecospermum, Sloetiopsis, Streblus s.1. (inc1uding Paratrophis, Phyllochlamys, Pseudostreblus, and Sloetia), and Trophis s.1. (inc1uding Calpidochlamys and Maillardia), is described in detail. Separate descriptions have been made for sections and/or subgenera to facilitate the discussion about the generic delimitations made by several taxonomists. The following generic combinations previously proposed by taxonomists are supported by wood anatomical features: Broussonetia + Allaeanthus; Maclura + Chlorophora + Cardiogyne + Cudrania + Plecospermum. The segregation of the African species of Chlorophora in a separate genus Milicia is supported by wood anatomical evidence. The broad genus concept of Streblus and Trophis is not supported by wood anatomy. Several seetions of these genera should be reinstated as genera. The correlations between wood anatomy, latitude, habit and habitat are discussed as far as allowed by the material studied. Characters useful for the delimitation of the genera proved to be the size of the intervascular pits, the parenchyma distribution, and the lengths of fibres and vessel elements. Rhombic crystals, vitreous silica and radial latex tubes usually are useful additional characters.

The growth ring concept: seeking a broader and unambiguous approach covering tropical species

“…This approach is assumed implicitly when studies of wood anatomy do not describe the anatomical markers but only note the presence or absence of growth rings as if they all correspond to the same character, hence implying functional similarities (e.g. Koek‐Noorman, Tooper & ter Welle, , b ; ter Welle, Koek‐Noorman & Topper, ; Alves & Angyalossy‐Alfonso, ; Miller & Détienne, ).…”

Pliocene charcoals from Shanxi Province of China and their application to studies of prehistoric wildfires

“…Affinity: The diagnostic features of this charcoal, e.g., ring-porous wood, simple perforation plates, abundant thin-walled tyloses, helical thickenings in narrow vessel elements, alternate intervessel pits, elongated vessel-ray pits, and homocellular rays, indicate its affinity with Moraceae [12,34]. This specimen is also very similar to the fossil woods of Robinia though it lacks vestured pits [35].…”

“…Only one species of the section Cudrania, M. tricuspidata Carr., is present in the Shanxi Province of China [34,36]. …”

A phylogenetic and functional perspective on the origin and evolutionary shifts of growth ring anatomical markers in seed plants

“…This type may be understood as a change in which the parenchyma becomes less dense in the latewood and thus could be included in the category described above (Section III.5b); however its peculiarities lead us to separate it into its own category. Examples of families with this special type of fibre zone are Chrysobalanaceae (Détienne & Jacquet, 1983;Mainieri & Chimelo, 1989), Leguminosae (Freitas, 1963;Détienne & Jacquet 1983;Mainieri & Chimelo, 1989;Cop, 2010), Lecythidaceae (Détienne & Jacquet, 1983;Fedalto et al, 1989;Mainieri & Chimelo, 1989;Miller & Détienne, 2001;Pons & Franceschi, 2007;Cury & Tomazello-Filho, 2011), Moraceae (Freitas, 1963;Détienne & Jacquet, 1983;ter Welle, Koek-Noorman & Topper, 1986a), and Sapotaceae (Kukachka, 1981a;Détienne & Jacquet, 1983;Mainieri & Chimelo, 1989;Miller & Détienne, 2001). In some cases, this fibre zone may lack vessels, as in Manilkara elata (Allemão ex Miq.)…”