Comparative Wood Anatomy: Systematic, Ecological, and Evolutionary Aspects of Dicotyledon Wood / Edition 2

by Sherwin Carlquist

Overview

This book is not concerned directly with wood identification, although ability to recognize the wood features discussed in the preceding chapters is essential for work in wood identification. The present chapter is concerned with how wood characters have been and can be used in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies - and also which wood characters are likely or not likely to be useful, in general. In wood identification, a match of an unknown wood with known woods is usually attempted. In systematic application of wood data, similari­ ties and differences among species, genera, and families are assessed ( usually, today, in terms of a cladistic analysis). One should be especially cautious in interpreting relation between taxa the woods of which have attained similar evolutionary levels. This possibility is a very real one, because so many wood features have evolved similarly in phylads that are not closely related to each other. For example, storied wood structure has been attained in a number of phylads independently. By itself storied wood structure cannot be used as an indicator of relationship between two families, but a cladogram ( using a range of phyletically reliable features) might demoo­ strate that two families acquired storied structure before divergence ( a synapo­ morphy) and thereby a strong case for relationship of the two families is made.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783540411734
Publisher:	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publication date:	04/20/2001
Series:	Springer Series in Wood Science
Edition description:	2nd completely rev. ed. 2001
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.04(d)

Table of Contents

1 Methods for Comparative Wood Anatomy Studies.- 2 Growth Rings.- 3 Vessel Elements.- 4 Imperforate Tracheary Elements.- 5 Axial Parenchyma.- 6 Rays.- 7 Cell Contents, Secretory Structures.- 8 Cambial Variants (Anomalous Secondary Growth).- 9 Cambial Ontogeny (Storying, Paedomorphosis, Other Changes).- 10 Systematic Application of Wood Data.- 11 Evolution in Wood: An Ecological/Functional Synthesis.- References.

Editorial Reviews

From reviews of the previous edition: "In synthesis, this book presents itself as an immensely valuable exposé on comparative wood anatomy and its bearing on systematic, ecological and evolutionary aspects of dicotyledon wood." (Wood Science and Technology) "This book is recommended to all who are interested in a modern, stimulating, competent, and well illustrated work." (Holzforschung)

From the Publisher