Abstract

CASTILLO, Maicol; SANABRIA, María E; HIDALGO, Carelia  and  PEROZO, Yaritza. Anatomical characteristics of the stem of Bursera tomentosa (Jacq.) Tr. & Planch.. Bioagro [online]. 2005, vol.17, n.1, pp.17-23. ISSN 1316-3361.

The anatomical structure of the stem of B. tomentosa was described based on samples obtained from wild plants in the location of Tarabana, Palavecino County, Lara State, Venezuela. Standard procedures of vegetal microtechniques were followed to make sectioning. The prymary growth presented epidermis with a single layer of cells, abundant glandular multicellular uniseriated and non-glandular multicellular unbranched uniseriated trichomes. The vascular bundles are collateral open type, sclerenchyma bands and secretor channels at the cortical level. Secondary growth is xeromorphic type, with abundant druses in the cortex, phloem, rays, and pith; the xylem is characterized by many short multiple vessels, with small diameter, and low vulnerability index; rays uniseriated, biseriated and multiseriated types. It is concluded that the xylem of B. tomentosa shows a xeromorphic strategy, a favorable characteristic for plants living in semiarid conditions.

Keywords : Wooden plants; vulnerability index; xeromorphism.