Analysis of three microscopic characters for separating the wood of Pinus contorta and P. ponderosa

Abstract

Three microscopic characters were evaluated for the identification of Pinus contorta and Pinus ponderosa. The tangential diameter of the resin canals, including the epithelium, was compared to the tangential diameter of the entire resin canal complex. The latter measurement was shown to give diagnostic results for these species. Data from the examination of ray composition do not support previously published methods for separating P. contorta and P. ponderosa. The presence or absence of small elongate crystals in the subsidiary parenchyma of the resin canal complexes was shown to be the most powerful diagnostic character for separating the wood of these species.

Keywords

Resin canal, wood anatomy, wood identification, Pinus contorta, Pinus ponderosa

Citation

Wiedenhoeft, Alex C.; Miller, Regis B.; Theim, Terra J. 2003. Analysis of three microscopic characters for separating the wood of Pinus contorta and P. ponderosa. IAWA journal. Vol. 24, no. 3 (2003): Pages 257-267