Caatinga Tree Wood Anatomy: Perspectives on Use and Conservation

ABSTRACT This work describes the anatomical analysis of the wood of four Caatinga tree species in order to determine the anatomical characteristics necessary for species segregation in functional groups, to relate them to the regional environmental conditions, as well as to infer about their management and conservation. Qualitatively, the species showed peculiar adaptations to xeric environments such as high frequency of low caliber vessels or parenchyma cells. Quantitatively, the four taxa were divided into three functional groups related to the precipitation and temperature of the Caatinga. ...