Descrição anatômica de espécies arbóreas do Cerrado

Abstract

The Cerrado biome is globally recognized as a biodiversity hotspot, harboring a vast floristic richness that, however, still lacks detailed anatomical studies, especially in transition regions and isolated fragments. This study aimed to characterize the macroscopic and microscopic wood anatomy of five native tree species occurring in the municipality of Monte Carmelo, Minas Gerais: Terminalia argentea (Combretaceae), Dimorphandra mollis, Copaifera langsdorffii, Hymenaea stigonocarpa (Fabaceae), and Aegiphila lhotskiana (Lamiaceae). Samples were collected from three individuals per species, processed according to standard microtomy and maceration standards. The results revealed convergent adaptive strategies, such as simple perforation plates and the predominance of solitary vessels, features associated with hydraulic safety in seasonal environments. A highlight is the unprecedented microscopic description of Aegiphila lhotskiana, which presented exclusively uniseriate rays and semi-ring porosity. Significant phenotypic plasticity was observed in Dimorphandra mollis, whose growth rings appeared indistinct in the studied population, diverging from consolidated literature. Wood anatomy proved to be an effective tool for the taxonomic distinction of the analyzed species, in addition to providing insights into plant adaptations to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the Cerrado in Minas Gerais.