Anatomical features of hardwood species based on density class

Abstract

Anatomical features grouped by wood density class provide important insights into structure-property relationships relevant to wood utilization. Despite existing studies, an in-depth anatomical characterization of hardwood species grouped by density class remains limited. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the relationship between wood density class and anatomical features of 24 tropical hardwood species from Indonesia. The species were classified into five density class, and their anatomical features were quantified using transverse sections (X) and macerations (M). Parameters including cell-wall thickness (CWT), lumen diameter (LD), fiber diameter (FD), vessel diameter (VD), fiber length (FL), and vessel length (VL), were determined. Several tissue-level and cell-level anatomical traits showed statistically significant but weak individual correlations with wood density, indicating that no single anatomical parameter alone controls density variation. One way ANOVA revealed no clear separation of anatomical features among density class, highlighting the multivariate nature of density control. In conclusion, the density class of tropical hardwood species is influenced by the interplay of various anatomical characteristics at both tissue and cellular levels, highlighting that wood density class cannot be attributed to a singular anatomical factor but necessitates a comprehensive anatomical approach.