Anatomical identification of tropical woods traded in Lavras, Brazil

Abstract

Anatomical characterisation of wood plays an important role in the recognition and confirmation of identity of commercially important timbers. Hence, the objective of the present study is to establish macroscopic identity of tropical wood species commercialised in Lavras, city of Minas Gerais/Brazil, and to verify whether the commercial names given to these species differentiate them from other wood species studied. Wood planks were obtained from commercial timber industries in Lavras region. The samples were passed through identification screening, anatomical characterisation, commercial nomenclatural analysis and visual comparison between the samples collected with available reference materials. According to the results, the trade nomenclature used for lumber industry was in agreement with the literature, except for the taxon Goupia glabra (Goupiaceae), and its common name Perobinha should be replaced by Cupiuba. Evaluation of several features affirmed that the axial parenchyma patterns, the vessel porosity and the presence of storied rays were essential to distinguish families, tribes and typical forest species of the Brazilian flora. Based on the results it was concluded that wood anatomy is an effective mechanism in the identification of commercial timbers, including endangered taxa such as Cedrela (Meliaceae).