This study compares and characterizes the wood from stem of Enterolobium contortisiliquum in different environments. Samples from a total of twenty individuals were collected from plants occurring in a Caatinga area in the municipalities of Campina Grande, PB (7°11' S and 35°58' W), and Buíque-PE (8°35' S and 37°14' S) and in a Tropical Semidecidual Forest in the municipalities of Taquara-RS (29°44' S and 50°50' W), and Santa Maria-RS (29°47' S and 53°34' W). The areas present different climatic conditions, where Campina Grande and Buíque present the highest temperatures and lowest rainfall compared to Taquara and Santa Maria. A qualitative analysis was made through light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The data were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis and analysis of variance (P ³ 0,05). In general, regardless of the origin the individuals examined, the wood of E. contortisiliquum presented solitary and multiple vessels, intervascular pits and alternate polygonal radiovascular alterns with shapes, vestured pits, presence of vasicentric paratraqueal parenchyma, homogeneous rays, predominantly 3 to 4 cell wide. Gelatinous fibres were observed. All individuals analyzed presented growth layers. A greater quantity of crystals and starch grains was detected in cells of the axial parenchyma of plants from the lower latitudes localities. The parametric analysis of variance confirm the associations between environment and wood anatomic characteristics of E. contortisiliquum, but show differences when data are compared to reports from other species and registered in the literature.
Caatinga; Enterolobium contortisiliquum; Tropical Semidecidual Forest; wood anatomy; wood ecological anatomy
