ANATOMICAL TRAITS OF ‘LOUROS’ WOOD FROM THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON FOR WOOD IDENTIFICATION

Abstract

This study aimed to describe anatomical characteristics of wood known as ‘louros’ from the Brazilian Amazon. The species is also known in Portuguese as preciosa, louro preto, louro pimenta, louro rosa, itauba, itauba amarela, louro branco and louro vermelho. Wood samples were collected in the extractivist communities of Paraíso and Arimum, located in the Verde Para Sempre Extractivist Reserve in Pará State, Brazil. All evaluated wood had diffuse porosity, simple perforate plate, alternate intervessel pits and non-storied rays. The anatomical characteristics indicated that louro branco had lower average ray frequency values (1.23), while preciosa, itauba and itauba amarela had higher mean ray frequency (6.70, 6.43 and 6.60), respectively. Samples of louro vermelho and louro branco had higher values for ray height (1994.36 and 5579.81) and width (511.21 and 506.40). Regarding vessel dimensions and frequency, itauba and itauba amarela had higher vessel frequency (11.43 and 11.83). Overall, strong uniformity of wood structure was observed at macroscopic and microscopic levels in the evaluated species. However, there were some slight differences. The anatomical characteristics, effective for discrimination, were axial parenchyma type, presence of septate fibres, type and grouping of vessels, presence of oil cells and starch.