Chave dicotômica para identificação de espécies arbóreas do Cerrado mineiro com base na anatomia da madeira

Abstract

The Central Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado) is the second largest Phytogeographic Domain in Brazil and despite being a region of great ecological importance, it has been the target of constant threats caused by human activities, especially those related to agriculture and livestock. With a rich biodiversity not yet fully known and in constant devastation, the cerrado needs more studies. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the wood of species that occur naturally in regions of cerrado stricto sensu, characterizing them microscopically, in addition to elaborating a dichotomous key that would help in their identification. Wood from twenty tree species was collected in two areas with fragments of cerrado in the city of Monte Carmelo, Minas Gerais. Histological slides and macerated material were made for the characterization and measurement of anatomical characters, following the standards proposed by the IAWA Comitteand COPANT. The dichotoumous key was elaborated from the analysis of the qualitative and quantitative data obtained with the descriptions and measurements of the wood of the sampled species. Some anatomical characters related to porosity, arrangement and grouping of vessels, perforation plates and intervessel pits had a wide occurrence among species, not being enough to differentiate them. On the other hand, characters related to the perforation plate, vessels arrangement, stratification of rays, presence of intercellular canals and included phloem, axial parenchyma patterns, in addition to data on the diameter of the vessels and the height and width of the rays, they allowed the identification of the studied species. This work contributed with information about species that had no description of their wood foun in the literature as weel as species alread described. The dochotomous key streamlined the identification process, proving to be an efficient tool.