Wood anatomy of daphniphylla ceae: Ecological and phylogenetic considerations,review of pittosporalean families

Wood anatomy of 16 collections representing three species containing eight subspecies of the single genusDaphniphyllum is analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively.Daphniphyllum has vessels angular to roundish in transection, scalariform perforation plates, scalariform to opposite lateral wall vessel pitting, tracheids with fully bordered pits, heterocellular multiseriate and uniseriate rays, diffuse axial parenchyma and, in one taxon, chambered crystals in axial parenchyma cells. Growth rings, narrower vessels, and more numerous, vessels per square mm characterize taxa from cooler habitats. All of the taxa have highly mesomorphic woods. Comparisons are made between Daphniphyllaceae and the other families of Thorne's Pittosporales (Balanopaceae, Bruniaceae, Buxaceae, Byblidaceae, Geissolomataceae. Grubbiaceae, Myrothamnaceae, Pittosporaceae, Roridulaceae, and Tremandraceae). These families are most comparable to hamamelidoid or rosoid families; other similarities or relationships for these families may exist, but are less conspicuous or less close. The families cited may form a plexus, characterized by primitive xylary and other features, comparable to Annonales (Magnoliales) as products of an early radiation of dicotyledons.