ANATOMIA DO XILEMA SECUNDÁRIO DE SETE ESPÉCIES DE Vochysia Aubl. (VOCHYSIACEAE), CONHECIDAS COMO QUARUBA NO ESTADO DO PARÁ, BRASIL

Species of the genus Vochysia Aubl. are known in the Amazonian wood market as quaruba, which has led to confusion among the species owing to the use of the same common name. As such, the aim of our study was to characterize the anatomy of the secondary xylem of seven Amazonian Vochysia Aubl. species of commercial interest in the state of Para, Brazil. Samples were obtained from the Walter A. Egler xylotheque of the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, and the macroscopic and microscopic descriptions followed the IBAMA and IAWA recommendations, respectively. It was concluded that wood from the plants belonging to this genus shows variability in the distribution and layout of the vessels, rays, and growth rings. These species present both single and multiple pores with angular contours, except in the cases of Vochysia densiflora Spruce and Vochysia ferruginea Mar., which present circular pore contours, tending to angular; diffuse porosity was observed in all species. As to the rays, all species analyzed present radial vascular markings with distinct areolas similar in size and shape to theones in the vascular parenchyma. Axial channels were observed in the species Vochysia densiflora Spruce, Vochysia guianensis Aubl., and Vochysia maxima Ducke. The presence of sclerotic tyloses and starches was also detected in Vochysia densiflora Spruce and Vochysia guianensis Aubl., respectively. The species analyzed present distinctive characteristics that can be helpful in their identification. KeyWords: Amazon wood; Wood anatomy; commercialization.