Wood anatomy of the dicotyledons indigenous to New Zealand 16. Lauraceae

Abstract

Wood anatomy of Beilschmiedia tarairi (A. Cunn.) Kirk, B. tawa (A. Cunn.) Kirk and Litsea calicaris (A. Cunn.) Kirk is described. Structural difference between Beilschmiedia and Litsea in New Zealand is well marked. Beilschmiedia is distinguished from Litsea by the presence of conspicuous axial parenchyma bands and exclusively simple perforation plates. B. tarairi, with its darker wood, is separated from B. tawa by more numerous oil cells and crystals, narrower axial parenchyma bands, smaller rays, wider vessels, and rays on transverse surface barely visible to the naked eye.

Keywords:

• Lauraceae
• Beilschmiedia tarairi
• Beilschmiedia tawa
• Litsea calicaris
• wood anatomy
• New Zealand