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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2018

Comparative Wood Anatomy and Chemical Composition of Millettia mossambicensis and Millettia stuhlmannii from Mozambique

Uetimane, Ernesto, Jr.; Jebrane, Mohamed; Terziev, Nasko; Daniel, Geoffrey

Abstract

The wood anatomy and chemistry of a relatively lesser used wood species, known in Mozambique as nsangala (Millettia mossambicensis J. B. Gillett), was compared to overexploited species jambire (Milletia stuhlmannii Taub.) to provide diagnostic features for safe discrimination. The anatomical results showed that both species shared several similarities such as intervessel pitting size range (8 mu m to 11 mu m), rays composed of only procumbent cells, fiber dimensions (average length up to 1359 mu m and wall thickness up to 10 mu m), and banded axial parenchyma. The extractives and lignin content were higher in jambire, while the carbohydrates and acetyl contents were higher in nsangala. The main anatomical feature separating the two species was the porosity pattern with semi-ring porous wood of nsangala compared to the diffuse-porous structure of jambire. Jambire had wider vessel lumina (200 mu m) and up to 3 vessels/mm(2) compared to nsangala vessel lumina of 86 mu m and a frequency of 37 vessels/mm(2).

Keywords

Chemical composition; Illegal logging; Millettia mossambicensis; Millettia stuhlmannii; Wood anatomy

Published in

Bioresources
2018, Volume: 13, number: 2, pages: 3335-3345

      SLU Authors

    • Jebrane, Mohamed

      • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
      • Terziev, Nasko

        • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
        • Daniel, Geoffrey

          • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

        UKÄ Subject classification

        Wood Science

        Publication identifier

        DOI: https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.13.2.3335-3345

        Permanent link to this page (URI)

        https://res.slu.se/id/publ/94458