ANATOMíA XILEMATICA DE CAESALPINIACEAE REGISTRADAS EN LA XILOTECA DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DISTRITAL FRANCISCO JOSé DE CALDAS

the anatomical study of the xylem of 21 species of caesalpiniaceae registered in the wood collection “josé anatolio lastra rivera” (jalr), of the “universidad distrital francisco josé de caldas”, included the macroscopic, microscopic and biometric characterization of the cellular elements that constitute the xylematic tissue. these analyses were developed following parameters defined by the international association wood anatomist committee (iawa committee 1989) and methods established by the wood technology laboratory of universidad distrital. measurements and descriptions were used to prepare identification keys and similarity analysis. the wood of caesalpiniaceae family illustrated common characteristics in growth rings differentiation, porosity, vessel arrangement, deposits, diameter and length, plates perforation type, alternate and vestured intervessel pits; fibers wall thickness and length; paratracheal axial vasicentric parenchyma, aliform and banded parenchyma and presence of prismatic crystals. also, variations in anatomical features such us longitudinal channels were found as diagnostic for some genera like copaifera. the variation and analysis of anatomical characteristics of the xylem tissue allowed to verify some taxonomic relations of the family caesalpiniaceae, like the observed with the species mora megistosperma, mora oleífera, peltogyne pubescens, peltogyne paniculata, sclerolobium odoratissimum and tachigali polyphylla.