Charcoal anatomy of Brazilian species. III. Melastomataceae

Abstract

Charcoal anatomy descriptions are paramount for identifying unknown charcoal specimens in different contexts. They form an integral part of anthracological studies, which can provide crucial information for researchers of different expertise. This paper describes the charcoal anatomy of 21 species in two subfamilies (Melastomatoideae and Olisbeoideae) of Melastomataceae native to Brazil. From those, six species are here described for the first time. The results point to clear distinction between the anatomical types inside the two studied subfamilies along with a relative homogeneity in anatomical features inside Melastomatoideae. For the latter, small qualitative and quantitative differences were identified, but intrageneric and interspecific variability hamper reliable identification in generic or tribe level.

Key words:
anthracology; archaeobotany; nature conservancy; palaeoecology